Nyck de Vries insists he was to not blame for a multi-car collision in Sunday’s Berlin E-Prix after Nick Cassidy labelled him an “fool” over crew radio.
In an intense pack-style Method E race at Berlin, Cassidy and de Vries have been combating for third place after they got here to blows at Flip 6, forcing each of them instantly outdoors the highest 10. The incident additionally concerned Sebastien Buemi and Edoardo Mortara, with all 4 vehicles converging on the tight hairpin.
Citroen driver Cassidy was fuming within the fast aftermath, telling his crew on the radio: “This De Vries is such an fool, man. Why does he drive like this? We’re four-wide beneath braking and he strikes. It’s humorous he offers me shit about Imola [where Cassidy made a mistake on cold tyres] and says he by no means makes a mistake in WEC.”
De Vries, nonetheless, disputed that model of the occasions, pointing to how Buemi triggered a series response that ended with him pushing Cassidy vast.
Exhibiting an onboard video of the conflict to Motorsport.com, the Mahindra driver stated: “The incident wasn’t actually between us, it was on the within. Seb Buemi got here in sizzling, and he hit Edo, and Edo hit me, and I hit Cassidy.
“I am right here on the surface, Seb is right here, and Seb simply… So, I do not actually perceive why…
“The contact is between Seb and Edo, after which myself and Cassidy. We have been simply 4 vast, we have been simply… It is vast sufficient, however I suppose I used to be simply on this sandwich.”
Replays confirmed Cassidy and de Vries banging wheels whereas braking, earlier than a separate conflict between Buemi and Mortara on the apex despatched Mortara into the trail of his team-mate de Vries, who then pushed Cassidy vast.
The incident compelled de Vries to retire with suspension injury, dealing one other blow to him in what has been a difficult season up to now.
De Vries has additionally come beneath hearth for his driving requirements this yr, most notably after working team-mate Mortara vast initially of the Sao Paulo season opener. Nonetheless, he hasn’t all the time been at fault, and was unfortunate to choose up a 60-place grid penalty in Jeddah after Mahindra changed a number of components on his automobile.
Buemi steered he was hit from behind earlier than he made contact with Mortara, which finally triggered the sequence of occasions.
“I had the sensation I used to be on the within however I really feel like I received touched after which I touched the opposite guys. I must see higher,” he informed Motorsport.com.
Pressed additional if one other driver hit him first, he stated: “I’ve the sensation, yeah. However I do not know who hit what first. While you drive 4 vast in some unspecified time in the future, it is unhealthy.”
Cassidy initially emerged unscathed from the four-way incident, albeit along with his race severely compromised, earlier than one other conflict with Buemi later within the race left him with a broken entrance wing.
The Kiwi couldn’t seem for his post-race media commitments after being chosen for routine anti-doping exams.
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