Vettel crashes out after Kvyat contact on lap one
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel failed to complete a single lap of Sunday’s 2016 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix after crashing out in a dramatic race start in Sochi.
Starting from seventh on the grid, Vettel was hit from behind by the Red Bull of Daniil Kvyat under braking for Turn 2. That pushed the Ferrari into the sister Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo.
As the two Red Bulls continued, Vettel spun into the wall – and retirement – at Turn 3, having seemingly picked up a puncture from the contact and then been hit again by Kvyat, who was handed a 10s stop-go penalty. It is the second race in succession that Vettel and Kvyat have clashed at the start.
There were also collisions further back, with Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg and Haas’s Esteban Gutierrez coming together. The former retired, while the latter was able to pit for a new nose and continue. The Mexican subsequently received a drive-through penalty for causing the incident.
The last of three lap-one retirements was Manor’s Rio Haryanto.
Follow the race live here.
WATCH: Vettel retires on opening lap in Russia
Next Up
Related Articles
Stroll opens up on 'noise' that has followed him in F1
10 ways to get your Formula 1 fix during the winter break
REVEALED: Your favourite race of the 2025 season
Ferrari confirm launch date for 2026 campaign
F1 AcademyHaas name Countryman as 2026 F1 ACADEMY driver
ExclusiveHow Norris made his school teachers ‘enormously proud’