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Wednesday, 30th April 2008

Franz Tost frustrated by another first lap exit, as STR nightmare rumbles on in Barcelona.

by Chris Hayes

Scuderia Toro Rosso's abysmal run of form this season is rapidly becoming par for the course with yet another double DNF and a fourth consecutive retirement for Sebastien Vettel.

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The German's Spanish Grand Prix was over almost before it began, after the youngster fell victim to an over-ambitious overtaking attempt by Adrian Sutil on David Coulthard on the opening lap. The sister STR of Sebastian Bourdais dropped out of the fray only a few laps later, after the Frenchman collided with Nelson Piquet Jr.

“Our races our getting shorted and shorter at the moment!” exclaimed team principal Franz Tost after the ordeal was over, “Vettel could do nothing about [his exit] as Sutil spun right in front of him, while Bourdais didn't see Piquet and they collided.”

Vettel, who has yet to finish a race this season and has now retired on the opening lap three times in four races, was naturally frustrated with the result and accused fellow German Sutil of being over-optimistic so early in the race.

“This is very disappointing, especially as there was nothing I could do about it,” the 20-year old sighed, “Adrian was far too optimistic in attempting an overtaking manoeuvre. He clipped another car and that spun him round right in front of me. I tried to get through on the inside, but there was no way for me to go. I might have managed it, but I had a Super Aguri also trying to get past.”

Bourdais' race didn't last much longer, the Frenchman retiring on lap ten having sustained suspension damage from tangle with Piquet at turn ten.

The Renault driver, who was trying to make up ground having spun early on, dived up the inside of the Toro Rosso, only for Bourdais to close the door, sending both drivers into retirement. Bourdais later admitted that he hadn't seen Piquet until it was too late - echoing the sort of complaint proffered by Red Bull stable-mate Coulthard after his two collisions in Australia and Bahrain.

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