Perez, who had spent much of the race outside of the points after an early stop to replace a broken front wing, was charging back into the top 10 in the closing stages and put on new tyres during the safety car triggered by the Jenson Button – Pascal Wehrlein collision.

The Mexican had edged alongside McLaren's Stoffel Vandoorne on the restart for 10th, the Belgian going into the Ste Devote barriers as Perez took the position, and then wound up on the back of Kvyat's Toro Rosso.

On the 72nd lap, Perez attempted a late dive down the inside of Rascasse, colliding with Kvyat and putting him out of the race. The Mexican himself had to pit with damage, ending a 15-race streak of top-10 finishes.

Kvyat said after the race: "I was already just doing my job, just going to the finish, after all that happened this weekend I would be very happy with P9. I obviously knew he [Perez] had fresher tyres, I saw what he did to Vandoorne and I thought 'okay, this guy really is desperate'.

"So I was just covering my line, to be honest, all the time and then he tried to go from really far away, I didn't even see it coming. And what I felt was just a hit, and my race was over.

"He just tried to, you know, lean on me like it was PlayStation, and it doesn't work like that.

"So, very, very disappointed, I think it was a completely desperate move from him."

The Russian expressed his surprise at Perez's actions, as he said the seven-time F1 podium finisher was experienced enough not to attempt such a rash move.

"It was desperate, I don't understand. The guy with so much experience, was fighting for the podiums is doing such desperate, stupid moves," Kvyat said.

He added: "I think I was just doing my job today, simple as that, was doing a good race, very calm, bringing the points and then you always find the one guy who fucks your whole day, and it is Perez.

Perez "had to try everything"

Perez, for his part, said he felt compelled to try and make up as many positions as possible with new tyres after his early-race misfortune.

"Basically it was a bit of a nightmare, my race, starting with lap 1. I had a little touch with my front wing, which compromised my whole race," the Mexican told Sky Sports.

"We managed to recover, I overtook [Lance] Stroll and I overtook [Jolyon] Palmer, I had to risk a lot to overtake. Then I found myself with new tyres at the end and around two seconds a lap quicker than Kvyat and [Romain] Grosjean.

"I saw a gap. I went for it, unfortunately there wasn't enough room and we slightly touched, which meant it ruined his race and my race as well.

"But to be totally honest, when I found myself in P10 on new tyres, I knew I wasn't going to go home happy if I didn't try. So I had to try everything."