15/04/2018
NEWS STORY
Toro Rosso has put today's race-changing clash between its two drivers down to a miscommunication.
"This weekend we struggled from the very beginning onwards," admitted team boss Franz Tost, "we were near the back on the starting grid, and during the race we couldn’t find the pace we needed.
"In addition to this, we had the collision between the two drivers because of a communication misunderstanding, which is a real shame," he added.
Speaking about the miscommunication which saw him clatter into his teammate, bringing out the safety car, a move which would turn the race on its head, and subsequently led to Brendon Hartley's retirement, Gasly told reporters: "I was catching Brendon and we were on two different strategies. At some point we would need a driver swap and they told me on the radio 'okay Brendon is going to let you past' at the end of the straight'
"I expected him to let me by," he continued, "I expected him to give me some space and I expected him to see me as I was quite close to him.
"I went on the inside and finally, I don't know if he didn't see me but I expected him to leave a bit of space for me to turn. I was on the inside and it was too late, there was nothing I could do.
"I tried to brake to avoid him but it was too late, we made contact and that was it. Next time we need to make sure we have better communication between each other."
"We swapped positions on the first stint as well because I was struggling on the ultra-soft," added Hartley, the only retirement of the race. "I let him by on the exit of Turn 14, and the second time I was asked, I planned to do the same, but my feeling is, I don't know, he must have thought that I was opening a door on entry, which was not the case.
"Clearly a miscommunication," the Kiwi continued. "I think he thought I was letting him by, but I planned to let him by on corner exit as we were on different strategies."
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