Pressure mounts on Kvyat after Vettel tangle in Sochi
Thursday 19 May 2016 11:37, UK
Red Bull chiefs will sit down with under-pressure Daniil Kvyat ahead of the next race in Spain after his clashes with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel "screwed" the team's race in Russia.
Kvyat endured a nightmare home grand prix on Sunday, twice hitting the back of Vettel within the space of the first three corners. The second incident sent Vettel into the barriers and prompted an expletive-laden rant from the German over team radio.
Kvyat was also on the receiving end of team-mate Daniel Ricciardo's displeasure after the initial clash with Vettel at Turn Two knocked the Ferrari into the Australian. Both Red Bulls were forced to pit for repairs and dropped out of points contention.
The 22-year-old Russian's performances have been under almost constant media scrutiny since his promotion from Toro Rosso in 2015, particularly with the even younger Max Verstappen consistently impressing at Red Bull's junior stable.
The Times reports 'pressure will intensity when Kvyat faces Christian Horner…who left Sochi with a face like thunder'.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has also indicated the team will speak with the Russian.
Asked what Vettel had told Horner when he confronted his old team boss on the pitwall mid-race, Marko told Germany's Motorsport-Magazin: "That we need to have a serious talk with Kvyat. He's right."
The lap-one carnage meant Red Bull failed to score points for the first time since last September's Japanese GP and lost touch with Ferrari for second in the Constructors' Championship.
Horner admitted Kvyat's actions "screwed our race completely" but is sure the youngster, who claimed the second podium of his career at the previous race in China, will learn from the incidents.
"The bottom line is he misjudged it. He hit the back of Seb and that concertinaed into Daniel and that was pretty much the end of our afternoon, unfortunately," said the Red Bull team principal.
"I'm sure he was pumped up for his home race, but from what he said, it just took him by surprise how quickly the cars stopped ahead of him. He's young and it's the first time he's been involved in an incident like this and I'm sure he'll learn from it."
Verstappen, who does not turn 19 until September and is already being tipped for a title-winning future, was on course to finish sixth in Russia before an engine failure.
The Dutchman is thought to be the subject of long-term interest from Mercedes and Ferrari, but is signed to a central Red Bull contract. Ricciardo's Red Bull deal runs to 2018.
