Daniil Kvyat believed he could have advanced to the second segment of qualifying at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza on Saturday but for Romain Grosjean costing him some time during his final run that he felt was the difference between advancing and not.
The Scuderia Toro Rosso felt comfortable driving the STR11 for the first time all weekend long during the qualifying session, but was eliminated by just 0.042 seconds, less time that what the Russian felt Grosjean cost him, although the Frenchman’s gearbox penalty promotes the Russian one place to sixteenth.
“During today’s qualifying session I felt quite comfortable in the car for the first time this weekend and I’d like to thank my mechanics and engineers for this,” said Kvyat.
“I was completing a good lap in Q1 but I unfortunately lost some time in the last corner during my final timed lap because of Grosjean – my team would have deserved him to look into his mirror! This cost me about two tenths, which is very annoying… I could’ve got into Q2.
“It’s a pity, but let’s see what we can do tomorrow – I don’t expect any miracles and for sure it will be a tricky race, but I will give it my best to finish as high up as possible.”
