Carlos Sainz Jr: Daniil Kvyat delay cost me a Russian GP Q3 spot

Kvyat scraped into final qualifying for his home F1 race at the last moment with a lap just 0.046 seconds faster than Sainz's.

It was while the Red Bull was building up to that lap that Sainz said he lost crucial time behind it in the final three corners - ending his shot at joining Toro Rosso team-mate Max Verstappen in the pole shootout.

Sainz believes the incident cost him "two or three tenths" and a definite Q3 place.

"All of a sudden Kvyat was there preparing his 'push lap' and eventually he kicked me out," he said.

"When they tell me 'Kvyat knocked you out', my friend, the one who slowed me down..."

He clarified that it was a case of unfortunate timing rather than blocking that merited a penalty.

"It's not impeding like he blocks you," said Sainz.

"Just by following the car you lose that two or three tenths extra of downforce in the last sector that you know could get us into Q3.

"If he would've let me by he would not have had any qualifying."

Kvyat said he had no idea he had delayed Sainz.

"If I did, I'm very sorry but I haven't seen him at any point in my mirrors in the whole qualifying session so I really don't know," he replied when asked by Autosport if he was aware of Sainz's comments.

"Maybe he mixed me with someone else or something because I usually pay a lot of attention to other drivers and I really dislike when drivers block other drivers so I think I will want to watch the video."

Sainz added that he would speak to Kvyat but that the Red Bull/Toro Rosso relationship meant he would not cause any fuss.

"Obviously I will tell him something but obviously it's the 'big brother' so I cannot really complain too much," he said.

"It wouldn't be very polite from my side, but anyway that's life."

Kvyat went on to qualify eighth, just ahead of Verstappen, with Sainz staying 11th.