Mark Webber, Red Bull, European GPMark Webber walked away from a spectacular accident in the European Grand Prix on Sunday, after being launched into the air over the back of Heikki Kovalainen's Lotus.

The Australian had made a poor start from the front row of the grid and had slipped down to ninth in the early stages of the race, before deciding to make an early stop for tires. As he recovered through the field, he got into the slipstream of Kovalainen's Lotus on the long run up to Turn 12.

Kovalainen appeared to brake earlier than Webber had been expecting and the Red Bull Racing driver struck the right rear wheel of his Lotus rival. Webber's car was launched into the air, striking an advertising hoarding and rolling over, before skidding on its wheels at high speed into the barriers.

"I was defending and I think he ran into me," Kovalainen told his team on the radio.

The Australian immediately threw his steering wheel out of the car and climbed out, before being taken away in the medical car. He appeared to have suffered no injuries.