Kvyat nears one-race ban after qualifying penalty

Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat is two points away from receiving a race ban after he was found guilty of impeding Lance Stroll during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The 23-year-old was handed a three-place grid penalty for tomorrow's race, along with one point added to his super license, bring his total to 10.

The Russian had spun at Turn 4 and damaged his set of tires and was told to slowly return to the pits by his race engineer.

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During his journey back, Kvyat was told that Stroll was approaching on a fast lap and to clear the racing line. However, the message got to Kvyat too late and he obstructed the Canadian's flying lap and cost him time.

The race stewards released a statement saying they determined "Kvyat was on an exceptionally slow lap having spun earlier and damaged his tires. The Stewards acknowledged that he was warned by the team very late of the approach of Stroll who was on a fast lap.

"Further, Kvyat pulled as far to the right as he could as soon as he saw Stroll. However, the Stewards considered that these were not mitigating factors. Kvyat was driving exceptionally slowly and taking the racing line at the end of Q1 when other drivers were attempting to set fast laps and this led to the unnecessary impeding."

Having been the subject of multiple Stewards' investigations this season, Kvyat feels that he's being treated unfairly compared to other drivers.

"I think they [the Stewards] like to make an example out of me," Kvyat said.

"Unfortunately we had a miscommunication with the team, the team didn't tell me anyone was coming. The speed was so different so when I saw him [Stroll] I went on the grass, for them [Stewards] it was not enough."

If Kvyat is penalized two more points, he will be forced to sit out a race weekend. This means Kvyat will have to race on his best behavior until the United States Grand Prix, where two points he received last year will be wiped.