:"It was the controversy surrounding qualifying incidents that dominated the build up to the Monaco Grand Prix. Although I was already having my own problems with traffic, the incidents in the final part of the qualification messed me up a bit too. My WilliamsF1 team-mate, Mark Webber, was very vocal about his concerns over traffic in qualifying before the race, but I doubt even he could have imagined something like that happening.

I was happy with my own qualifying up until the third session. The car was running very well, the mechanical grip was performing excellently, as we expected, and as Mark showed we were very quick around the tight circuit.

Traffic problems on each of my third session runs unfortunately compromised Q3 for me so, once I was caught up in that, that was really it for my qualifying. In retrospect, perhaps I should have dropped back more - even though that would have caused problems for me with the car’s temperature. But that’s the way it sometimes goes in Monaco.

Starting from eighth on the grid I knew I was going to have to put in an aggressive start and make up some places. When it came to it I got away really well, pushed the car around the outside and made up two places, which was great.

Even with a good start though there was a danger of getting stuck behind some slower cars with heavier fuel loads and that’s just what happened when I found myself behind Rubens Barrichello on lap one. On a circuit where it is so hard to pass that really damaged our race strategy.

The car was feeling great though, it was very good mechanically which is our strong point and Bridgestone also did a very good job for us here.

Unfortunately Mark and I both suffered exhaust problems, which meant some of our electrics were fried. For me it meant my throttle stuck open and I had to just plant the car in the wall. The mechanical problem was particularly tough for Mark who was running in third at the time, the team deserved some really good points from this weekend, because the car was just feeling fantastic.

I grew up in Monte Carlo and this was my first GP on home soil, it has been a great weekend for me personally. To race in Monaco in F1 was just fantastic, and to be running up front for a while before things went wrong was great, although we could have come out with so much more.

It’s on to Silverstone next and while the circuit will provide some very different challenges I think that with some good racing from Mark and me, along with a bit of luck, we can score some good points."