Valente and Tarquini get into shouting match after Shanghai collision

Campos Racing's Valente lashed out at Tarquini post-race, saying the 53-year-old Italian was "too old" during a heated exchange between the two.

Valente, 23, had started the race in question from pole position courtesy of the reverse-grid rule, but was challenged by Tarquini into the first corner.

The rear-right wheel of Tarquini’s Honda Civic made contact with the rear-left wheel of Valente’s Chevrolet RML Cruze as they went side-by-side, which seemed to be the catalyst for the Frenchman's subsequent suspension failure.

Valente then went wide into Turn 2, believing the Italian had pushed him off, and soon spun out of the race with a broken suspension.

Tarquini went on to finish second behind the Citroën of Yvan Muller, and was approached by Valente on his way to the podium.

“Are we going to have a word?” said Valente to Tarquini.

“On what,” responded Tarquini.

“For what? You pushed me three times.”

“No, you pushed me on the first corner."

“Gabriele, Gabriele, I pushed you where?”

The two then began talking over each other, with Valente referring back to contact at Motegi two weeks’ ago, while Tarquini again denied any contact.

“Motegi what? I never touched you,” Tarquini retorted.

“You braked too late,” rounded off Valente. “You’re way too old, you’re too old, you made a good race, but…”

“I’m tool old, huh? And you are too young,” interjected Tarquini.

“You hit me twice,” responded Valente while gesturing with his hand.

A now agitated Tarquini shouted “put your hand down” at the Frenchman before the two began to curse at each other. Valente eventually walked away and Tarquini was guided to the podium ceremony.

The stewards investigated the contact after the race and deemed it a racing incident.

Neil Hudson / TouringCarTimes