First corner shunt my fault, admits Webber.

Mark Webber has held his hand up and admitted that he was to blame for the first corner accident that, not only led to his retirement from the European Grand Prix, but also delayed several others, including Juan Montoya and both Schumacher brothers.

Webber appeared to go too hot into the tight right-hander the opens the Nurburgring lap, and collected Montoya as the Colombian took his line into the turn. While Montoya was pitched up onto two wheels, Webber continued into the gravel trap, the front of his car too badly damaged to continue. Behind them, Michael Schumacher spun in avoidance, while brother Ralf rammed the rear of both Fernando Alonso and Rubens Barrichello, breaking the nose on his Toyota in the process.

Barrichello, Montoya and Schumacher Sr were all able to continue, but Ralf was forced to return to the pits for a new nose, as did Takuma Sato, who also took part of his front wing off his BAR-Honda. Somehow, points leader Alonso got his Renault sideways and avoided becoming a part of the melee.

"Today was just so disappointing," Webber admitted, "Nick [Heidfeld] and I didn't get away from the grid that well, and that put us both in difficult positions into the first corner. I had Trulli and Alonso trying to get down the inside, so I braked a bit later attempting to defend my position - especially from Jarno - because it was very important for our strategy to keep him behind. I just couldn't get the car stopped and hit the side of Juan Pablo's car. It was a shame because we had strong potential today."

"I had a good start and turned into the first corner in third place, but then I was hit by Mark Webber and went off," Montoya confirmed, "I resumed in 13th position...."

Ralf Schumacher insisted that he was blind to what was going on ahead of him, having tucked under the rear wing of another car on the run to turn one.

"I made a reasonably good start but, as I went into turn one, I was very close to Alonso and, all of a sudden, he came to an almost complete stop," the German explained, "Because I was so close behind him, I couldn't see what was happening in front, so I became involved in the accident. It's a pity, but I really couldn't do anything about it."

Alonso went on to win the race, but admitted that he was afraid of the consequences of the incident.

"I was afraid after Ralf hit me - I thought the car might have been damaged, and that I would have to retire," the Spaniard revealed, "After a few corners, though, it was clear that everything was okay, and I was able to continue."

Webber was the only retirement from the accident, but was joined on the sidelines later in the race after Ralf Schumacher spun out of the event.