ROME, Jan 31: Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher and Ferrari team mate Rubens Barrichello have blamed themselves for crashes in testing in Spain.

“There was no technical problem,” Thursday’s Gazzetta Dello Sport newspaper quoted Schumacher as saying after he smashed into the tyre barriers on Wednesday.

“It was my mistake. I’m testing so I must take risks a bit otherwise what am I testing? I don’t know exactly what happened, maybe a wheel touched the grass but it can happen in test development.”

The accidents ended Ferrari’s test at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, with the Italian team saying the shattered cars would be taken back to the factory at Maranello.

Schumacher excluded any problems with the suspension or other problems with the car.

Barrichello, although not injured, admitted to some discomfort after the Brazilian’s second crash this month.

His Ferrari hit the barriers and flipped into the air after he lost control at speed.

“I have a slight back problem,” added Barrichello. “I suddenly lost control of the car and the impact was very hard. Everything happened in a strange manner but it seems like my error.”—Reuters