'I had nowhere to go', says Rio Haryanto

©WRI2

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Manor's Rio Haryanto's day of racing ended almost as soon as it started on Sochi, the Indonesian becoming a casualty of the first lap drama last Sunday.

Haryanto fired off the grid and plunged into the first corner without any issues, but on the entry of Turn 2 he found himself sandwiched between Esteban Gutierrez' Haas and Marcus Ericsson's Sauber before being hit by Nico Hulkenberg's spinning Force India.

Unfortunately, the hit resulted in terminal damage for the Manor and a botched race for Haryanto.

"I was unlucky and it's very disappointing, especially after I made such a good start, probably my best of the season so far," Haryanto commented post-race.

"I managed to gain a couple of places, however, when I got to Turn 2 there were lots of cars fighting and the Force India of Hülkenberg spinning but I had nowhere to go.

"There was contact on the side of the car and quite a bit of damage, which meant I had to stop the car."

The 23-year-old has endured a difficult start to his Grand Prix career, but given the progress displayed in Russia, Haryanto is optimistic for the immediate future.

"After a good couple of days it’s disappointing to finish the weekend in this way, but looking at the positives I feel we have been more competitive and I’m looking forward to continuing this at the next race in Barcelona."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.