Schumacher blames Senna for Brazil collision

SAO PAULO, Nov 27, 2011 (AFP) - Michael Schumacher blamed his 10th-lap collision with Bruno Senna in Sundays Brazilian Grand Prix on the Brazil driver's lack of experience.

The accident wrecked both mens races, Schumacher, in his Mercedes, finishing 15th after a pit stop and Senna, of Renault, 17th. 

Schumacher passed Senna for ninth on the start-finish straight, but his rear tyre was punctured by the Renaults front wing as Senna stayed close to him and then braked late.

Senna was given a drive-through penalty by the stewards, but Schumacher had to complete a full lap on a punctured tyre. 

Seven-time champion Schumacher said: "It was a bit of a shame with the incident with Bruno, which was caused perhaps due to some lack of experience, but then those things happen.

"Otherwise I think we could have had a nice race with some solid points. After the collision, all I could do was try to fight as much as possible, and hope for rain which did not come."

Schumacher said that the collision also affected the balance of his car, but that with the race now over he was already looking forward to 2012.

"In the first stint after the incident, my car was not well-balanced with a lot of oversteer. Unfortunately we could not change this at the pit stop which handicapped the balance in the second stint, whereas in the last stint the balance was good.

We very much look forward to next season now. With all the effort that is being put into the development of the car, I am confident we can make another step forward to where Mercedes belongs; fighting at the top."