Kvyat returns to Toro Rosso for 2019
- Published on 29 Sep 2018 09:09
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- By: Fergal Walsh
Daniil Kvyat will return to Toro Rosso for the 2019 Formula 1 season, the team has confirmed. The Russian driver first raced for the Red Bull junior squad in 2014, after winning the GP3 championship the previous year.
After just one year with Toro Rosso, Kvyat was promoted to Red Bull to replace Sebastian Vettel, who left the energy drink squad to join Ferrari. Kvyat joined alongside Daniel Ricciardo and recorded two podium finishes over his maiden season with the senior squad.
However, just four races into the 2016 season, Red Bull announced that Kvyat would be demoted back to Toro Rosso to make way for Max Verstappen. He failed to recover his form and was dropped in favour of Pierre Gasly prior to the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2017.
After making a return at the Circuit of the Americas, Kvyat was dropped completely from the Red Bull programme, before being picked up by Ferrari as a development driver for the 2018 season.
“First of all, I would like to thank Red Bull and Toro Rosso for giving me this opportunity to race in Formula 1 again and I am particularly pleased to be returning to a team I know very well," Kvyat stated.
"Toro Rosso has always made me feel at home and I’m sure it will still be the same next season. I would also like to thank Ferrari for trusting my driving skills which allowed me to stay connected to F1 as their development driver. Even if my duties were primarily simulator based, I’ve learnt a lot, and I now feel stronger and better prepared than when I left Toro Rosso.
"I never gave up hope of racing again, I am still young and I have kept in good shape to always be prepared in case another opportunity presented itself," he said. "I will give my best to deliver what the team expects from me and I can't wait for everything to start again."
Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko previously claimed that the team has a list of ten drivers that it could sign for next year. It is believed that the deal was signed in Monza after talks accelerated in Spa, one week before. Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost says that Kvyat still has more to prove in F1.
"I believe he deserves another chance in Formula 1," Tost said. "Daniil is a high skilled driver with fantastic natural speed, which he has proven several times in his career. There were some difficult situations he had to face in the past, but I’m convinced that having had time to mature as a person away from the races will help him show his undeniable capabilities on track.
"We’ll push very hard to provide him with a good package, and I feel the best is yet to come from his side. That’s why we are happy to welcome him back to our team, to start a successful season together.”
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Replies (4)
Login to replysiggy74
Posts: 194
I can just see the chat on this one
Kvyat "Really Mr marko you want me to drive for you again?"
Marko " Well Danny Boy, i here that Chasey and the guys want to improve the show for the fans and next year we will have a banger car section in the race "
Kvyat "so i am free to race ?"
Marko " The only rules are to score points, and not take out seb in the red car. The yellow car with Riccy is fair game"
Kvyat" i can score loads of points on my licence :), Rest assured i will do me best"
Marko" Thats not the points i had in mind, Your only driving becuase we have no one else, and we want info on the ferrari that you have ;p"
Marko" i Also have a bet, that we sack you buy the 5th Race, so that will more than cover the costs ;p"
In all seriousness, this is the second marriage * And normally that ends in another divorce *
Jutlandia
Posts: 191
I'm not sure it's a good idea, letting him back on the grid.
Most likely he still have his Torpedo mentality in him.
Marko must be in some sort of panic.
xoya
Posts: 583
I don't know what to feel. I always thought he was a good driver, but the mental pressure of being demoted really screwed him over.
He was demoted because Verstappen appeals more to the sponsors than him and that's it. Arguably, he is on par with Max skill-wise (also crash-wise).
I am glad he is back, but I am not glad he is back with RedBull (ToroRosso).
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Kvyat was clearly talented enough to be in F1 I just wish he was in a different team. This change also speaks to the lack of you talent Red Bull has, they keep pulling experienced drivers from other categories. I don't think Kvyat has a chance of ever making it back to Red Bull so maybe if he impresses he can get a drive elsewhere.