After crashing out of the Friday first free practice of the Hungarian Grand Prix, a frustrated Damon Hill said: "I feel like I have gone from Roadrunner to Wile E. Coyote - nothing I do seems to work. It has been very, very frustrating this season. I have not delivered and that makes it awkward when you know you have not fulfilled your potential. It has been tough to bear and I have shown that as I have lost my temper a few times. But I wouldn't be a racing driver if I didn't have that aggression.

"I feel like I am not in control of the car. If I could control the car everything else would be alright. It has been quite a disappointing year, not only because I have had a lot of bad luck but because when I have had opportunities I have not done as well as I would have hoped. The car has obviously been a better car throughout the year than last year, and that has made it more difficult for myself."

Hill also commented on his German Grand Prix retirement, which was widely criticised since there was no apparent reason for his to drop out of the race. "What happened in Hockenheim has been misunderstood because I haven't gone into it as deeply as I should have done," said the former World Champion. "I don't want to get involved in detail because somebody picks up on a small grain of what I say and it is misreported back to the team. The engineers understand what went on in Hockenheim and I had very good reason to stop in the race and I am happy with that.

"I have had a lot of understanding and a lot of support from the team and the last thing I want to do is fuel any perception that there is any grievance between the driver and the team. There is not. If we could go back to Hockenheim again there could have been things we could have done to prevent what happened from happening. But what happened in Hockenheim is history. It was regrettable that I was not able to have a good race and compete, given my position on the track but that's all I am prepared to say. It was another frustrating weekend and you find it hard to believe that it can keep happening weekend after weekend, but it has been like that all year."

None the less, Hill said he remain optimistic. "I think there is no reason why I cannot reproduce the form that I know I am capable of and I just have to try and keep pushing on," he said. "If I don't do that I never will. I am doing my very best and sooner or later my luck has got to change. I am doing my best to do what I can for Eddie (Jordan) and the team."