EARLY SHOWERS
R
ed Bull driver Max Verstappen and
McLaren’s Fernando Alonso were
both forced into early showers
after being caught up in a Turn One
melee on the opening lap of the Austrian
Grand Prix.
Alonso made a great start from from
13th saw him overtake the sluggish
starting Red Bull as Verstappen – whose
anti stall failed – was engulfed by the
pack, but both drivers ended in the gravel
after Daniil Kvyat clattered into Alonso.
Kvyat passed his Toro Rosso team-
mate Carlos Sainz off the start and up
the hill to Turn 1, but hit the brakes too
late and slammed into the back of the
McLaren, who banged into the Red Bull.
A case of three into one does not go…
The damage sustained was enough
to force Alonso and Verstappen out of the
race.
Kvyat who is known for his first-lap
incidents, was able to resume the race
but the stewards handed him a drive-
through penalty for causing the accident.
Kvyat said after the race, “I think we
need to look into it, because we tried to
do our best in terms of brake balance
for Turn 1, but I’m not sure it helped. It
felt like I locked the rear, then locked the
front – and then all four wheels slide and
you’re just a passenger.
“Very disappointing of course, just
couldn’t avoid the car in front of me. Very
upset, but now don’t see any option other
than turn the page and move on. I don’t
see anything else.”