Maverick Vinales has apologised to his Yamaha squad for his behaviour in last weekend’s Styrian Grand Prix, explaining his frustration of having to start from pit-lane led to the situation.
Vinales was suspended from this weekend’s Austrian GP after Yamaha found he had over-revved his engine on several occasions across the closing laps before pulling into the pit-lane before taking the chequered flag at the end of the race, the Spaniard buzzing the limiter once again on his way to the garage.
Yamaha hinted that they believed Vinales had over-revved his engine to purposely damage it, saying in a statement that he had performed an “unexplained irregular operation” with his M1 that endangered his self and other riders out on track.
It is currently unknown whether Vinales will return to the team having already announced he will leave the Japanese marque at the end of the season.
Speaking to Sky Italia on Saturday afternoon prior to qualifying in his first media interview since being suspended by Yamaha, Vinales described the recent string of events as “a very strange situation”, the 2013 Moto3 world champion accepting that he likened his frustration to an “explosion that I couldn’t channel properly.”
“I’m very sad because it’s a very strange situation,” explained Vinales.
“It’s really hard to be in this situation right now and I’m lucky to have people who are there for me at this very hard time.
“It was a very big moment of frustration because the first part of the race had been perfect and I was starting the second part of the season well again.
“Then it all went wrong and there was an explosion inside me that I couldn’t channel properly.”
Vinales says that the past few days “have been difficult to deal with” and that he “never intended to put anyone in danger”, the nine-time premier class race winner affirming his intentions to “come out stronger” as a result of his problems.
“I apologise to Yamaha, because I rode in the wrong way in the last laps, so I want to apologise to everybody,” continued Vinales.
“I have so much desire to win, but it had been a long time since I had felt well,” Vinales added.
“I tried, but in the end this frustration led me to ride in a way I shouldn’t have, but at no point did I intend to put anyone in danger.
“We have had a very long partnership, but the last few days have been really difficult for me to deal with.
“As I have already said, I want to apologise to Yamaha, because it was not my intention to end up like this.
“I just want to give 100%: now I’m living a difficult moment, but I want to come out stronger.”
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