Sauber criticized Jacques Villeneuve on Sunday after the Canadian wrecked the team's chances of scoring vital points at the Monaco Grand Prix.

　　The 1997 world champion tried to pass teammate Felipe Massa at the Ste Devote corner 15 laps from the finish but instead forced the Brazilian down the escape road as he hit the tire barrier.

　　Massa, who had been in sixth place and heading for three points, ended up ninth while Villeneuve lost seventh place and finished 11th.

　　"We had a perfect strategy for the race today and some very good work by the pit crew brought us up to a very strong position after the first incident that brought out the safety car," said team boss Peter Sauber.

　　"However the incident caused by Jacques cost us five valuable championship points that would have enabled us to close the gap on our direct competitor, Red Bull. What happened today is the most depressing thing that a team can experience."

　　Sauber is seventh in the Formula One standings, with seven points, seven adrift of Red Bull.

　　Villeneuve said he could see that Massa's rear tires were finished while his car still felt good.

　　"I was told to reduce the gap to the guys in front of me because a lot of us were closing up in the fight for points," said the Canadian. "I tried something that unfortunately didn't work."

　　The Canadian, who won his title with Williams, has had a difficult season with the only real highlight being his fourth place at last month's San Marino GP.

　　Before that race there had been speculation that Sauber would seek to replace him.

　　(Reuters)