WATCH: 'It's not great from Ocon' – Kvyat blames Renault driver for Austrian GP retirement

Share

Daniil Kvyat’s Austrian Grand Prix ended spectacularly on Lap 69 with suspension failure, costing AlphaTauri the chance of taking a double-points finish at the first race of the 2020 season. And after the Grand Prix, the Russian blamed contact with Renault’s Esteban Ocon for ruining his race.

The incident between the two drivers took place at Turn 6 on Lap 63, with Kvyat's onboard camera showing him being pushed wide onto the kerbs by the Renault.

And after retiring from the season opener just two laps from the finish, Kvyat said: “The race was going really well for me until the contact with Ocon. I had a very good pace and fresher tyres.”

READ MORE: Horner calls for Hamilton apology as Albon says he could have won in Austria without collision

He told Formula1.com: “It’s not great from Ocon’s side to push off people like this, to be honest. But I could’ve been more patient as well. A bit disappointing, the race until then was panning out very well. It’s a shame, I unfortunately cost myself a lot of points today.”

SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA - JULY 05: The rear left tyre of Daniil Kvyat of Russia driving the (26)

Kvyat's race ended in spectacular fashion

Having started the race in 13th, Kvyat took advantage of the first two Safety Car periods to pit on Lap 26 and 51, putting him in P9 as team mate Pierre Gasly ran in seventh for the new-look squad. But a late tussle with Ocon cost him dearly.

“After the collision, my front wing and a suspension broke,” said Kvyat. “I also had a puncture, so my race was over.”

READ MORE: Bottas beats Leclerc and Norris to win dramatic Austrian GP as Hamilton is penalised

Pierre Gasly 'stayed out of trouble' to finish P7

AlphaTauri’s consolation was Gasly’s eventual P7 finish behind Racing Point’s Sergio Perez, which gave the Faenza-based squad six points to ensure they came away with a healthier haul than the likes of Red Bull and Renault.

Gasly said after the race: “If someone had told us that we would have been P7 on Sunday we would have signed straight away, so I think we can be very happy with my result after a difficult start to the weekend.”

It was just one of many unexpected outcomes in a race that saw Lando Norris take a maiden F1 podium, Charles Leclerc finish second for Ferrari and both Red Bulls retire.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Coming Up

Coming Up

Video

MUST-SEE: Listen in to Hamilton's emotional radio as he crosses the line in his final race for Mercedes