Kimi: I am so sorry.

Kimi Raikkonen has apologised to Force India's Adrian Sutil after bringing the young German's Monaco dream crashing down to earth with just a handful of laps to run.

The pair were running fourth and fifth, Sutil ahead, as the race resumed after the second safety car period, only for the world champion to make an error coming out of the tunnel and slam into the back of the Ferrari-engined Force India at the entrance to the chicane. Although Raikkonen was able to resume, eventually finishing ninth, out of the points, after pitting for a new front wing, Sutil's race was over with suspension and diffuser damage.

"I said I am sorry for him and his team because, probably, they are not going to be often in the position to score a fourth position," Raikkonen was quoted by AFP, "Plus it was in Monaco , so it was harder for him than for me. But it was a racing incident and I could not go anywhere. There wasn't much space and I could not slow down."

Indeed, the accident was not due to Raikkonen running too hot into the braking zone, or misjudging an overtaking attempt. The Ferrari snapped into a tankslapper at the crest before the road falls away to the chicane, and the world champion was unable to prevent it from hitting the back of Sutil's car. The incident bore similarities to David Coulthard's qualifying shunt, where the Scot had his Red Bull veer right into the barriers - on a completely dry track - writing off its right-hand side and sending DC spearing down the escape road with little retardation

"It was just a racing incident," the Finn repeated, "I just locked the rear brakes on the bump and you cannot really slow the car after that. There was nowhere to go, and not enough space to try and avoid him. Basically, I just think my brakes were a bit too cold and I locked the rear.

"I nearly lost the car but unfortunately I hit him - and it is sad for them. I feel sorry for him, but I could not do anything. I tried to slow down, but there was nowhere to go and nowhere to slow down - and I lost fifth place."

The accident denied Raikkonen a chance to hold on to top spot in the championship, and he now trails race winner Lewis Hamilton by three points, with Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa having hauled himself to within one point of the Finn after not scoring in the opening two races of the year.

Ferrari was also uncertain as to the cause of Raikkonen losing control.

"We haven't analysed the data, but Kimi lost the control of the car while braking, maybe locking a wheel at a point of the track not yet perfectly dry," team principal Stefano Domenicali suggested, "It was a shame because one of the things is that you don't want to lose points this way. We have such a competitive car and it was such a shame to lose points like this.

"We are also sorry for our client, Force India. It was really not good."