Tsunoda started with a two-point lead over de Vries, but on the first lap the Dutchman passed him as the pair rolled out of Turn 2.

The Japanese then looked down to the outside at Turn 3, but de Vries took his way on the exit and pinched his teammate’s front wing.

As de Vries continued unscathed, Tsukuda lost the left portion of the flank and immediately told the team he had to pit.

However, on his first high-speed section – near the spot where Romain Grosjean famously drove his Haas under the safety car – he understeered and used the car to hit the wall on the right side. The right rear wheel was shattered and the tire fell off.

Tsunoda was told to return to the pits for a tire change, but warned the team he didn’t think he could continue the race because it had been hit so badly.

He made it back to the pits safely and after a quick visual inspection he was told “the car is fine”.

However, once he drove off, with the car tipping sideways, it became apparent that the suspension was damaged, and he ran another lap before retiring.

Tsunota, who was visibly upset when asked by Autosport about the incident, would not name de Vries.

“I was forced into a wall by some drivers,” he said. “Going into (the corner) I had absolutely no grip in front. “

Asked to identify who was the culprit, he said: “I can’t say here.”

Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri AT04

Photography: Mark Sutton/ motorsport pictures

Meanwhile, de Vries insisted he has made room for his teammates.

“Going into Turn 3, we were next to each other,” de Vries said. “He was outside, there was room for a car and I was slightly ahead, so I think that’s how we approached.

“He must have touched my right back. Obviously, there wasn’t enough room for either of us.”

Despite Tsunoda’s apparent disappointment, a team spokesman insisted there were no issues with either driver at a later debriefing.

Faenza were subsequently fined €5,000 for releasing Tsunoda’s car in unsafe conditions and the FIA ​​warned the team for not doing more to check for suspension damage.

Tsunoda said he doesn’t think the damage will be immediately apparent.

“It’s not right, but we just put a tire on and (wanted to) see if there was any damage,” he said. “It was invisible, they looked from the outside and they didn’t see any damage, so maybe that’s why they sent me out. Obviously, there was damage.

“It’s really frustrating because especially since yesterday, this track has been a huge opportunity for us. I haven’t had a good time in the sprint (race) so far.”

Tsunoda will start Sunday’s grand prix eighth and said his retirement from the sprint race, which started 16th, was most disappointing because he didn’t run any long runs before the race.

“Based on where I started, I wasn’t really focused on points. It was a good opportunity for me to get to know the tires, how they degrade, so it’s still a big loss for me .”