Silverstone makes F1 barrier changes after Kvyat crash

Silverstone is installing extra crash barriers where Daniil Kvyat had his accident during the British Grand Prix to add further protection ahead of Formula 1’s 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.

The AlphaTauri driver suffered a right-rear tyre failure at the flat-out Maggotts corner and was sent spinning into the barriers on the outside of the Becketts complex at high-speed on Lap 12 of last week’s British Grand Prix.

Kvyat walked away from the crash unscathed but suffered extensive damage to his AT01 after hitting the solid barrier head-on. The FIA has since taken action to lesson the risk of a repeat by installing an additional tyre wall at this section of the Silverstone circuit.

The damage to Kvyat’s AlphaTauri also prolonged the period of time it took for marshals to remove his car and get the race back to green flag conditions.

F1 race director Micheal Masi refuted suggestions that the recovery time was extended due to restrictions relating to the stringent COVID-19 protocols in place, explaining: "The extent of the damage actually made it more difficult to recover that car. I don't think it was anything to do with a lack of marshals at all.

"And actually, to be honest, the marshal reductions here had nothing to do with trackside side of it. So I don't say that that was any impact at all.”

Red Bull’s Alex Albon also hit an unprotected barrier at high-speed when he lost control of his RB16 at Stowe during second practice on Friday. Unlike the Maggots/Becketts complex, this section of barrier remains unchanged for the second race at Silverstone.

“I think the angle of where he hit it, it's not something that's unusual," Masi said. "The angle of impact for our side of it, within our simulations, was all within the guidelines that we have with the FIA.

"So no, I don't see there being a change to that barrier. It was a very strange incident at that point to be quite honest."