Michael put me on the grass, seethes Heidfeld.

Nick Heidfeld blames Michael Schumacher for the incident that put the pair of them out of the Australian Grand Prix on lap 42.

Heidfeld got on the grass under braking for turn three, sliding into the side of the Ferrari as he struggled for grip. The Williams was out on the spot while, after a push from marshals, the world champion drove back to the pits to retire.

"I think that I made a good move," claimed Heidfeld, who was catching Schumacher at the time of the incident, "Michael had just come out of the pits and, obviously, he had a bad exit from the first chicane, because he wasn't on the ideal line. I went alongside him and could have out-braked him, but he didn't leave me any space and pushed me on to the grass, where braking is impossible."

Inevitably, Schumacher did not agree with his fellow countryman's interpretation, and reckoned that it was no more than a racing accident.

"With this type of thing, there are always different opinions," he said, "and mine is that it is impossible to blame either one of us. I saw him behind me just as I came out of the pits and I made it clear I was defending my position. At one point, I lost sight of him in the mirrors and went into the corner, where I felt I'd been hit.

"I have seen the incident on film. Heidfeld was on the grass and so was not in full control of his car. I can't blame him for trying to overtake me."

The Ferrari man gesticulated wildly for the marshals to push-start him, appearing to believe that the F2004M was beached in a dangerous position. Help took its time in arriving, and Schumacher was well down the field, but the question remains whether he had intended to carry on racing.

"My car was slightly damaged in the collision, so there was no point in going on," he revealed.