Sunday March 31st, 2002

Brazilian Felipe Massa blamed Minardi driver Mark Webber for his retirement at his first home Grand Prix at Interlagos on Sunday.

20-year old Massa, making his Formula One debut with the Sauber team this year, retired from the race after clashing with Australian Webber on lap 42 of the Brazilian Grand Prix when the Minardi driver tried to dive down the inside of the Swiss car.

"I made a great start and was able to follow Nick in the early stages, but then some understeer got worse and worse and I began to slip back," said Massa. "I had a great fight with Villeneuve and Frentzen but unfortunately, after my stop Mark Webber tried to brake very late and put me out."

Massa's teammate Nick Heidfeld was unable to repeat last year's third place, and completed a disappointing race for the Sauber team, retiring on lap 62 with a brake problem.

Published at 19:47:04 GMT