29/05/2016
NEWS STORY
Daniil Kvyat and Marcus Ericsson have both been handed grid penalties for the forthcoming Canadian Grand Prix.
The Russian's collision with Kevin Magnussen at Rascasse followed a number of near misses as the Toro Rosso driver was attempting to make up for an early technical problem that left him a lap down.
Having been foiled by the Renault driver as he attempted to pass at the Swimming Pool, Kvyat made a move on the inside of the Dane at Rascasse.
Having spoken to both drivers and viewed the relevant video footage the stewards deemed that Kvyat "with two small collisions effectively created an overtaking space which in reality would not have been there if the collision had not occurred".
Finding that the Russian caused a collision, a breach of Article 38.1 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, they handed him a 3 position grid penalty for Montreal and 2 penalty points - bringing his 12 month total to 7 points.
"We were racing," insisted the Russian, "he blocked me twice pretty strongly two corners before and we touched. Next corner I tried to go on the inside again and he just blocks you completely, you know. I couldn't go through the walls, so I had to go through him.
"That was it, really," he added. "I had a couple of moves in that corner two laps before. When you find a driver who really doesn't want to let you by, sometimes this happens. I had nothing to lose so I was going for it and he seemed to be wanting to really block me. I didn't know how it looked from the outside."
Meanwhile, Ericsson was penalised for the move - also at Rascasse - on his Sauber teammate, Felipe Nasr.
Deeming that Ericsson caused the collision with Nasr, a breach of Article 38.1 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, official handed the Swede a 3 place grid penalty for Montreal and 2 penalty points, bringing his 12 month total to 6.
"I was feeling very strong on the ultrasofts," said the Swede, "I was catching him (Nasr) three or four seconds a lap. I asked the team for the procedure and they told me he was going let me past, because the speed difference was so big.
"For seven or eight laps he didn't let me through. I told the team 'look, I'm losing too much time' and said I was going to make a move and they said 'yeah, go for it'."
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