Force India defends Perez in Kvyat knockout move

Sergio Perez's 15-race run in the points came to an abrupt end last weekend in Monaco after the Mexican collided with Toro Rosso's Dany Kvyat six laps from the end of the race.

Perez was sitting tenth when he forced a move up the inside of Kvyat at Rascasse, a maneuver which cost both men a points-scoring finish and which the dejected Russian, who retired from the race, pinned on his opponent in no uncertain terms, claiming the move was "desperate".

Force India COO Otmar Szafnauer defended Sergio Perez's tactics however.

"He pushes hard but he's not reckless," explained Szafnauer.

"He usually makes the moves stick. He overtook [Lance] Stroll, [Jolyon] Palmer, [Stoffel] Vandoorne, and tried on Kvyat.

"He probably overtook more than anyone [in this race], three of the four successfully."

• Kvyat slams 'desperate' overtaking move by Perez

Szafnauer also believes that Kvyat had perhaps left too much room on the inside at Rascasse, enticing the Force India driver to pounce.

"To me, Kvyat left the door open and then closed it on Checo," he said.

"It ruined Checo's race too. And I thought the FIA recently said, 'Let them race.' Did they not? That's the new edict.

"Well, that, to me, was a racing incident. The door was open and then closed. It ruined Checo's race too, that's punishment enough – I don't know why Toro Rosso would want anything else.

" You take Rascasse like you should, take a tight line like everyone else does, and it doesn't happen.

"Do the fans want to see that kind of stuff? I think so. I'd hope so."

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Gallery: All the pictures from Sunday in Monaco

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