Kubica let Raikkonen past

After the Bahrain race Sunday Robert Kubica said that confusion over oil on the track caused him to forfeit second place to Kimi Raikkonen early in the Bahrain Grand Prix. The polesitter was passed at the start by Felipe Massa, then fell to third behind the second Ferrari two laps later.

"I didn't know about the oil, and I'd hit some debris in corner one so I thought I'd punctured the tyre," he said. "I was nearly going to pit because I didn't have the information about the oil on the track, so I lost a place to Kimi."

"In the second stint we had some problems with graining and rear tyre degradation and I think we lost a lot to Ferrari," Kubica explained.

"But anyway it's a good result for the team and we're leading the constructors' championship, so it's a good weekend."

Kubica was gaining on Raikkonen in the closing stages and was just four seconds behind the victorious Massa at the flag – to the delight of his team boss Mario Theissen. However, we don't know if the Ferrari was in cruise mode at that point.

"In the end the gap to the Ferraris was really small," he said.

"The car still has more potential for us to exploit, and we shall continue to do this carefully one step at a time."

Kubica's teammate Nick Heidfeld completed an excellent day for BMW by leading several laps and finishing fourth.

"Now after the race I'm much happier than I was yesterday," he said.

"Finishing the race just one position behind my team mate, who started from pole while I was sixth, is a good result.

"The car's balance on this track was just not how I wanted it to be.

"I hope I won't have such troubles again."