Both SAUBER PETRONAS drivers, Nick Heidfeld and Heinz-Harald Frentzen, were forced to retire before the finish of the race. Heinz-Harald suffered from a failure of the main electronic control and Nick retired with an engine problem

Nick Heidfeld (Driver)

In my opinion we have suffered from too many engine failures this season already! Apart from this the main problem I had today was the launch control. Usually I have good starts, but today it simply didn´t work out. As a consequence I lost some places on the first lap and got stuck behind Villeneuve, which cost me time. Later on I was able to make up two places but the fact that I had to retire once again due to an engine problem leaves me feeling very frustrated.


H.-H. Frentzen (Driver)

At the start I lost some places but I was just about fighting to come up again when the automatic gear system failed and the revs suddenly soared. There was an electronic problem between the engine and the gearbox, but the cause still needs analysing. Of course I am very disappointed, and it is also a shame for Nick. I think in better circumstances we should have been able to score points today.


Peter Sauber (Team Principal)

Apart from the subsequent technical problems our chances of points had gone already after the start. Both drivers lost places and got stuck behind Villeneuve as the rest of the field got bottled up behind him. Heinz-Harald had to retire due to a defect in the electronics, and Nick suffered an engine failure.

Source : Sauber

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