Kvyat obviously to blame for crash, says Vettel

2016 Russian Grand Prix

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Sebastian Vettel said Daniil Kvyat was obviously to blame for the first-lap collision which took him out of the Russian Grand Prix.

The Ferrari and Red Bull drivers tangled at the start for the second race running. Kvyat made contact with Vettel from behind at turn two, then hit the Ferrari a second time in turn three, sending Vettel into the barriers for good.

Vettel was phlegmatic afterwards, telling the BBC: “These things happen but obviously it is harsh.”

“In the end, the race is very long. You can make progress in the first lap, yes, you can also end your race there. For me it was the case today, it was not my fault, nothing I could have done different, nothing I would change.”

Vettel said he held Kvyat responsible for the collision again but holds no personal grudge against the Red Bull driver.

“I don’t dislike him,” said Vettel. “I think he did a mistake two weeks ago, he did a mistake today it’s fairly obvious. But it doesn’t help me know because I’m not in the car.”

Kvyat was given a ten-second stop-and-go penalty for the collision. Vettel has now retired from two of the last three races.

2016 Russian Grand Prix

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    Keith Collantine
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    62 comments on “Kvyat obviously to blame for crash, says Vettel”

    1. That’s what happens when instead of a reprimand or a penalty, you praise someone for “standing their ground” after the last race. His move in China was risky at best and would have ended in a bigger crash had Vettel not moved out of the way.

      Hopefully this time they ban him before someone actually gets hurt by his idiotic driving.

      1. No, 2 weeks ago it was a good, opportunistic move, that ended in tears for Vettel and Raikkonen but not because of Kvyat: he did not do anything wrong, the Ferraris were out of shape there.

        Today, yeah, it was an obvious mistake. But then again, last year Kimi crashed into Bottas twice in 3 races. It can happen sometimes.

        1. I think he did wrong 2 weeks ago, it WAS legal but he didn´t go right into the corner, he failed apexes and crossed racing lines…
          If you see the footage, he entered the turn a lot faster not only than Vettel, but anybody else.

          It was legal and it ended up well, as you can see, if he does it always he´ll crash, because today was the same, he didn´t brake into the turn and he would fail the apex and go wide even if there was no car there no make contact.

          1. All the footage showed was that it was a great move. And today it was nothing but clumsy.

            1. you people should watch again and stop saying he mad the apex; he DID NOT!!!
              That corner in China is like a tightening spiral; it has an almost straight portion and then it starts curling to the right before the next left turn.
              He “was hugging the apex” initially, on the relatively straight portion of the turn; once the real apex came, he under-steer across the racing lines of the two cars on his left.
              Kimi “oversteering” to the right was not helping the tree cars situation either, but please stop saying Kvyat was blameless for that incident.
              When you are driving in a file, you can take whatever line you want in the corner, but in the first lap when cars are 2 and 3 side by side, you should be more mindful of how much speed you take into the corner.
              Young Kvyat, misjudged that and he carried too much speed; just like in Russia. He was caught a bit napping with the right foot “ON”.
              Shumacher did it too, to Kamuy, i think, a few years ago.
              All that being said, the China incident was nothing compared to what he did in Russia. But the issue was between the steering wheel and the engine in Kvyat’s car. He will learn to be more careful and mindful on the first lap. Grosjean learned and look what a driver made him. He probably knows by now, you can’t solve a race in the first corners, but you can can definitely waste it.
              More outrageous was the first lap turn 2 corner cutting by the likes of Lewis, Fernando, and a couple more that netted them 5-6 places a head, without the stewards even mentioning it.

        2. It was a move based on Kvyat’s assumption that Vettel would move out of the way; when Vettel confronted him after the race, Kvyat himself admitted he hadn’t seen Raikkonen on Vettel’s left because he “only has two eyes”.

          It was a risky but borderline fair move, what was more worrying was his attitude after the race (along the lines of “whatever, I am on the podium so all is well”) which was further fueled by a lot of Vettel haters’ reaction callin Seb a crybaby (when he was the only one of the 3 that did absolutely nothing wrong in that first corner in China).

          This article is quite telling of Kvyat’s mindset going into this race: http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/15434234/no-mercy-vettel-rivals-first-corner-daniil-kvyat

          Either way, congratulations to Max Verstappen for sealing his promotion today. Hopefully the move will happen before Kvyat sends more people in the barriers at 200kmh (ironically on the anniversary of Senna’s death).

        3. @fer-no65
          The Point is not about whether Kvyat did right or wrong at first lap. Its about learning Kvtat was adamant last race that he would do the same and Vet said it wont work out in that way every time. and well its what happened now He need to learn and Understand but he didn’t

          1. It’s a wrong assumption to say it won’t work again. Vettel himself could’ve listened to those critics in 2010 and change his racing but no, he stuck with it, and kept doing the same things, and it worked every single time since being labelled as “crash kid”.

            It’s a matter of confidence. Kvyat had everything on his side to do that move in China. What happened today is completely unrelated to that. It was a mistake, whereas 2 weeks ago it was an inspired move: he smelled blood, and he took those positions out of the Ferraris. And look where that got him: to the podium.

        4. @fer-no65 What’s with you? We all get that you think Kvyat’s move last time out was absoLutely BRILLIANT. You feel the need to mention it, what, 15 times and again today twice? Give it a rest already. Kvyat is a child and ruined someone’s race with his amateur behaviour on track. Pretty straightforward.

          1. @johanness I’m free to say whatever I want. And if I repeat myself, don’t read my comments and that’s it :). Besides, if people feel the need to comment on something that was done and dusted 2 weeks ago, all over again, it’s not my fault!

            Cheers

            1. Not people – you. Leave the horse alone. You’ve beat it to death

            2. @johanness you cold just ignore him. You have your own filter: ignorance.

            3. Carefull, @fer-no65 “I’m free to say whatever I want.”
              That translates into “my ignorance is just a right as your knowledge”!

            4. @johanness not sure what’s your problem. Again, ignore my comments if you don’t like them. Besides, as you can see, I’m replying to a comment that mentions what happened in China.

              @ianbond001 that’s your translation. An opinion is always valid, it might be wrong or right, but it’s valid, at least in this subject: we’re all spectators giving our views about things others do or don’t do on a racing track.

              I’m respectful of others opinions, and I wished others did the same with me. And, again, you don’t like it, ignore it.

    2. Kvyat obviously went to the ‘Maldonado’ school. Can’t believe he even gets to race while Vandoorne just gets 1 race…

      1. I think it’s way too soon to say Kyvat shouldn’t be in F1, but hopefully he will learn. He was fine in China, but a disaster here.

    3. Next time kayak should make it so obvious. Can believe he needs extra money to take out vettel. Or is Bernie behind this too?

      1. Lewisham Milton
        1st May 2016, 15:07

        You clearly haven’t read this before posting it.
        Why should we read it?

    4. Honestly, his “moves” represent the start. As Brundle, said that the start was like childish way. Seriously 4/4 for 1st corner chaos. Can’t these drivers get out clean out of the first corner? We had like 5 cars going off the first corner just to avoid anything.

    5. One of the worst pieces of driving I’ve seen at the start since Grosjean at Spa. He looked like he had no intention of slowing for the 2nd corner and should have noticed the puncture he gave Vettel before he ran (hard) into the back of him again.

      Lost any sympathy I had for his move in China.

    6. Kvyat got it wrong in T2 but why did Vettel lift in the next section?

      1. Pedro Guilherme De Almeida Carvalho
        1st May 2016, 14:47

        Because his car was damage buy the same guy that was behind him

      2. He had a puncture.

      3. To make sure he didn’t have a tyre problem which would’ve caused a high speed blowout with all the cars around him had he sped up.
        Ironically, KVY made sure VET had a puncture.
        The way I see it, KVY caused the whole mess. He might be the new Maldonado.

        1. I already prefer the genuine Maldonado!

          1. Ha ha..Me too.

        2. Clearly, Kvyat has gone to the Putin School on Tactics!!

          (Was intentional as I see it!)

    7. Pedro Guilherme De Almeida Carvalho
      1st May 2016, 14:46

      Another overrated driver on the track. Last race we finish 3rd because of his move on the first corner made both Ferraris crash. Without that we would never get on the podium and today just shows how bad this guy is

      1. Trenthamfolk (@)
        1st May 2016, 16:18

        give it a rest. that was raikkonen’s fault. everyone knows.

    8. haskvyatcausedacrashedtoday.com should be a website now…

      1. After two races with incidents where only one was clearly his fault?

        1. Trenthamfolk (@)
          1st May 2016, 16:24

          Perhaps Kyyat would have more respect if Vettel hadn’t blamed him repeatedly last race for something that wasn’t his fault. Can’t blame Kyyat for not giving a damn. You reap what you sow!

          1. Please watch another sport.

            1. Trenthamfolk (@)
              1st May 2016, 16:54

              No

    9. maarten.f1 (@)
      1st May 2016, 15:03

      Every time I watch the replay of Kvyat’s onboard, it reminds me of my days as a kid playing Grand Prix 2…

      I don’t know what was going through his mind, but it doesn’t do him any favors for next year.

    10. I don’t know what Kvyat was thinking there. He made a brilliant move in China on the two Ferraris, and was obviously inspired by that move so he probably tried something again today, but instead drove like a fool and took out Vettel and Ricciardo.

      1. He didn’t try anything, what was there to try? There wasn’t any space anywhere to try anything. He simply misread the approaching speed. Anyone who ever raced a simulator knows how that happens.

    11. Well, at turn one he went in too hot, locked his brakes and went into the back of Vettel.

      That’s poor, but, it happens.

      But the second incident? A bit more caution really could have been in order. But I guess when you have 22 guys all pushing hard incidents will happen.

      Coulthard made a song and dance about Vettel slowing down mid corner, frankly, it’s the start of the race. There are cars doing all sorts of things.

    12. AntoineDeParis (@antoine-de-paris)
      1st May 2016, 15:19

      Just like I thought, those bobsleigh photos were indeed a message. This russian sobacca is overconfident and lack essential skills

    13. Kvyat make the move over Vettel on purpose. He is to blame. He ruines Vettel race and his own. He must be very happy for his move on Vettel, he can joke with his young russian friends for that, but I do not thing his boss is happy with him.

      1. Depends on who his boss is: If it’s Ferrari, they’re not happy. If it’s Putin, then he is happy.

    14. Trenthamfolk (@)
      1st May 2016, 16:17

      Vettel conveniently forgets that he used to crash into anything that moved when he was a youngster… dubbed ‘The Crash Kid’ but Martin Brundle, I recall him behaving like a maniac and blaming everyone else, being disrespectful and rude. Everyone made excuses for him… ‘he’s brilliant, it’s a true racers character’ etc… I laughed out loud when he went off… serves him right for blaming Kvyat for the crash last race that was caused by Raikkonen and banging on about it for ever and a day like the spoilt #nob he is. Welcome to the club mate, can’t always have it your way.

      1. Trenthamfolk (@)
        1st May 2016, 16:40

        Martin Whitmarsh dubbed Vettel the Crash Kid, thanks to Ted Kravitz for putting that one straight… Seb is a maniac himself, just more experienced. What goes around comes around.

      2. AntoineDeParis (@antoine-de-paris)
        1st May 2016, 16:43

        Kvyat is like: In order to maintain my RBR seat I can go 2x faster and break 2x later than my rivals, I will fly over them and impress my bosses.

      3. @trenthamfolk

        Vettel conveniently forgets that he used to crash into anything that moved when he was a youngster… dubbed ‘The Crash Kid’ but Martin Brundle

        No, that was Martin Whitmarsh, after Vettel had a total of two crashes in 2010, the 2nd of which was with his driver Button.

        Everyone made excuses for him… ‘he’s brilliant, it’s a true racers character’ etc…

        If/when Vettel causes an incident, the majority will rightly blame and criticise him for it. The majority rightly blamed him for the crash you reference from 2010 (back then also garnering criticism for his racecraft), and the majority rightly blame him/Kimi for the China incident.

        I laughed out loud when he went off… serves him right for blaming Kvyat for the crash last race that was caused by Raikkonen and banging on about it for ever and a day like the spoilt #nob he is.

        Forever and a day? The world must have ended and cycled back to the same day for him to admit:
        “What happened on the first lap, in the end, is a racing incident. I was determined to overtake Kimi. Daniil was determined to overtake me.”

        http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/latest/headlines/2016/4/vettel-diffuses-kvyat-row.html

        1. Trenthamfolk (@)
          1st May 2016, 16:59

          Whoop, get you @david-a… fair points, but he banged on about it for far too long… and I put the whitmarsh thing straight (see above), like I care… Vettel shouts too much and thinks he’s important and should have special treatment. He’s not. He’s a former champ with a loosers chip on his shoulder. Get over it.

        2. Trenthamfolk (@)
          1st May 2016, 17:09

          Oh, and Vettel’s BFF and bestest buddy ever, Horner, didn’t deny that Vettel used to cannon into Mclarens all the time when Ted Kravitz mentioned it… however, without prima donnas like Vettel and rookies taking chances, F1 would be boring. Just like you.

          1. @trenthamfolk
            Well, you’re calling me boring for some reason, but all I know is it worked out for Vettel in the end. It’s Kyvat who was 100% to blame today. No amount of exaggeration, digs or insults thrown around by you can change that. Kyvat is in a much worse position now than Seb was back then. He better shape up soon, otherwise Max will have his seat.

            1. Trenthamfolk (@)
              1st May 2016, 18:09

              I never said it wasn’t Kvyat’s fault, but my opinion and yours are clearly at odds. How did ti work out for Vettel exactly. We might agree on that.

            2. @trenthamfolk
              “Worked out” in the sense that Vettel’s performances were stronger after the “crash kid” remark, and won the title that year.

      4. What are you saying???

        When Vettel was a youngster he was subchampion and 4 times champion, you don´t achieve these buy crashing everyone….

      5. Michael Brown (@)
        1st May 2016, 18:21

        I don’t see with what happened years ago has to do with Vettel today. He didn’t cause the crash today.

      6. kill yourself

      7. total rubbish….

      8. total rubbish comment

    15. Kvyat wasn’t at fault two weeks ago.

      Vettel is still trying to find an excuse for crashing into the other car. I don’t know why. It wasn’t on him either.
      It was all Kimi’s fault.

      1. SV did clarify after he cooled down that it was acracing incident.

    16. Amateurish from Kvyat – and a sign of the mental pressure he is under that he has failed to deal with. Riccardo is handily quicker than him, Kvyat has many sessions where he is badly off his pace, and he responds by trying too hard. He got away with the China move, but you don’t always get away with those moves, and he simply braked far too late for turn 2 in Sochi. The turn 3 contact would be forgivable for another car, as Vettel did lift, however since Kvyat damaged Vettel in the first place, ploughing him off just added insult to injury.

      His time in F1 is drawing to an end. You can see that from Ricciardo’s and Horner’s comments. He is not benefitting his own team – let alone Ferrari!!!

    17. It looked like Kvyat was racing at Martinsville in a Sprint Cup car…..I’ve seen guys make misjudgments like running into the back of someone once. But 3 times? Are you kidding me?
      Was he trying to impress that little midget of a Putin?

    18. Well stated, David.

      When a driver says (I’m referring to the words of the driver and not someone’s armchair opinion of his driving) his move would have been fine if not for the second car to the other side of the car he’s trying to beat into a corner there is no argument for what he [Kvyat] did. Why? The. Other. Car. Was. There. China-gate would have ended just as bad… if not worse… had Seb not broken Rule #1 of racing.

      It fails all sense of reason to defend Kvyat’s tactics in China and/or Russia. He forced a horrible situation at Shanghai and hit the same driver TWICE in consecutive corners at Sochi. Vettel (a much more gifted driver at the same age) was called out as an overambitious youngster, despite his crashes being credited to other drivers. What’s wrong with calling out Kvyat as the same thing when he’s actually causing the crashes and is not as talented?

    19. Prediction: Kvyat will cause a major accident, where he will feel the heavy g-forces him selves and experience death-fear, before he learns it.
      Argument: Because he wasn’t punished for his dangerous dive into a gap, that in reality wasn’t there, last race, and he clearly felt an urge to prove something to Vettel and Ferrari if given another chance, he caused even several incidents this sunday. He wasn’t hurt by Vettels run-off and the punishment he received is only something he must relate to on a intellectual level. He will keep on behaving like this until a consequence sooner or later hits him emotional deep down – like Grosjean. But I don’t think Kvyat will become another Crashtonado, at least not as consistently or to a level, where someone makes a similar page.

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