Ralf given warning for Sato incident

Race officials gave Ralf Schumacher a conduct warning for an incident with Takuma Sato during the Bahrain Grand Prix. Both drivers were called to a stewards' meeting after the race and officials agreed with Sato that Schumacher was at fault.

The pair went head to head at the first corner early in the race, Ralf trying to get past the BAR. Sato claimed the Williams cut across and did not give him enough room, resulting in a collision that sent Ralf's car spinning off the track. Both managed to continue after pit stops.

"The tangle with Ralf Schumacher was disappointing because we should have got through turn two side by side but he just closed the door on me and turned in," said Sato. "After that, I ran wide, damaging the front wing on the kerb and I was forced to do an earlier pitstop."

Schumacher's opinion was somewhat different: "The collision with Sato was an unfortunate race incident, from my point of view, however, he was a bit optimistic in thinking to get back the position he had simply just lost," he commented.

Sato was not the only one Schumacher upset during the course of the race. Later on he also clashed with Sauber's Giancarlo Fisichella. "Ralf Schumacher spun me on lap 31," said the Italian, which added to his eventful day. "Without these problems, especially Ralf, I think we could have challenged for a point today."

In a separate incident, Ferrari was fined for a near miss between Rubens Barrichello and the Renault of Jarno Trulli. Barrichello exited his pit stop as Trulli was coming in for his, and stewards decided Ferrari let the Brazilian go too soon, causing Trulli to swerve out of the way.