Sutil rues missed opportunity in Montreal

Force India driver Adrian Sutil is still rankled by the missed opportunity in Montreal where, he reckons, a top five finish was well within the realm of possibility but for the contact with Robert Kubica which left him with a punctured tyre.

Sutil started ninth on the grid and had an exciting duel with Kubica when the Renault driver suddenly pitted his car, not before a contact with Sutil's VJM03 which left the German with a puncture.

Kubica got a reprimand for the incident but that cost Sutil his race as the Force India driver had to pit his car even though finishing 10th meant he still got a point.

"We missed out on a big chance. It was not our fault, but still we missed a big chance" rued Sutil, recalling the race in which team mate Vitantonio Liuzzi also had his share of misfortune after an opening lap tangle with Ferrari's Felipe Massa necessitated an early pit for the Italian who eventually bagged two points courtesy his ninth place finish.

"I think position five or six was possible, certainly sixth behind (Red Bull's) Mark Webber. The pace was good, we knew that after qualifying, so it was a little bit disappointing. But we can be happy that both cars finished in the points," said Sutil.

Recalling coming into contact with Kubica, Sutil said, "I was trying to pass him, but I didn't know that he was going into the pits. He suddenly backed off. He was right behind me, and I thought, 'Good I've gained a position.'

"I was braking as normal before the chicane, and suddenly he came flying down the inside. I thought he'd missed his braking point and was trying to get the position back. But then he pulled into the pits, and I was wondering, 'What did he do?'.

"He touched me slightly on the rear right tyre and I got a puncture. Within 200m the pressure dropped down, and under braking for the first corner I lost the car and went straight. That manoeuvre ended my race," lamented the German.

"I was so unlucky, because I had to do the whole lap with a punctured tyre. I lost around 20 seconds, and it did huge damage to the floor. There was no real floor left on that side, to be honest.

"And then I just had to race as it was. I still did a good race, and could fight for positions. It was tough, but I got a point in the end," he said.

Looking ahead to next week's European Grand Prix, Sutil said, "Last year we were quite good in Valencia. I finished 10th and the car should go pretty well there again, but it's a bit different to Montreal, where you have longer straights and just chicanes. You need a bit more down force in Valencia. But it should still suit our car."