#sochi2016

With the 2017 season looming upon us and I need my F1 fix, I’m currently watching the 2016 Russian GP and I still get a rage on from the Vettel-Kvyat double ramming. And the more I see it the more I think it was deliberate. When you consider all the factors -

Vettel’s flying start was exceptional, textbook material.

Kvyat’s start was standard.

Kvyat could have slowed up going into turn 2, knowing very well that all options ahead of him were blocked with Vettel, Ricciardo and Perez all abreast of each other. Where everybody else seemed to find the same braking zone, Kvyat’s left foot must have slipped. Either that or he has a heavy right foot!

Kvyat then proceeded to follow the exact line of a potentially stricken Vettel as no one knew (not even Vettel) whether or not he had a puncture. We know that hitting the rear of another car normally results in a puncture and Kvyat should have been prepared for it.

When Kvyat hits Vettel for the second time, they are both accelerating. Vettel passes Hamilton which shows he has probably little damage from the first collision. And as they sweep round a curve rear ends him for a second time, finishing the job he set out to do the first time they hit.

If Kvyat was attempting to overtake Vettel at that point then why did he make absolutely no effort to turn the steering wheel right? That’s normally how you achieve such a manoeuvre. Going straight through a car is sadly not an option.

From the on boards you can see that the other cars around and in front are all taking the same action and lifting ever so slightly for the kink in the road.

There was room on the right hand side, but Kvyat chose to ghost Vettel and ghost him he did.

I can understand the first contact, but the second one just makes no sense at all.