Horner blames Kvyat spin for being unable to challenge Vettel
Monday 6 July 2015 10:51, UK
Christian Horner believes Red Bull could have finished on the podium at the British GP had Daniil Kvyat not spun on his in-lap as the rain started to fall.
The Russian finished sixth at Silverstone, but showed impressive pace during the mixed conditions at the end of the race lapping around around three or four seconds quicker than the Williams of Valtteri Bottas ahead.
Unseen by the television cameras, Horner says Kvyat had a spin before pitting to switch to intermediate tyres on lap 44 which he feels cost the Russian the chance to fight Sebastian Vettel who had stopped on the previous lap.
“Then the rain started to come and it is that frustrating scenario where you are watching and listening to the drivers and looking at the lap times not to go to intermediates too early and chew them up, but not to go too late,” Horner said.
“I think the two guys that timed it to perfection today were the two with the experience in Lewis [Hamilton] and Seb. Dani had a spin on his in-lap and lost about 10 or 12 seconds, plus the deteriorating circuit, I think without that we would have been pushing Sebastian for a podium.”
Daniel Ricciardo made an early exit from the race as Renault unreliability once again struck, but after difficult races in Canada and Austria, Horner was in a positive mood as he reflected on the race.
“For the first time this year since Monaco it felt like we were in the race, racing the Ferraris, Kvyat made a very good move on Seb into Luffield and then we were really focussed on a one-stop strategy and we weren't sure if Ferrari were going to do one or two, we were just running our fastest race,” he said.
“Kvyat seemed to have very good pace, unfortunately Ricciardo started to develop a problem and we then had to retire the car with the electrical failure of the ERS and the turbo.”
The wet track negated some of Renault’s power deficit to Mercedes, placing more emphasis on the car and Horner was delighted with how the RB11 performed.
“Overall it has been a positive weekend,” he concluded.
“The car has made a forward step, the layout of this circuit was always going to play more to our strengths and I think the other thing that really does reassure us is that when you do get a bit of variable conditions Kvyat was the quickest car on the track in the last few laps on inters and when the rain came and on slicks for a period of time he was the quickest car on the circuit.
“I think once things get balanced out a little it is still great to see flashes of real potential there. Ultimately sixth could have been better, but it could have been a lot worse.”
Don’t miss the F1 Midweek Report for all the analysis of the British GP. Former FIA president Max Mosley and F1 correspondent for The Times Kevin Eason join Natalie Pinkham in the studio. Catch it at 8:30pm on Wednesday July 8 on Sky Sports F1.
