Russian downplays significance of heading team-mate in the standings
Tuesday 22 September 2015 09:30, UK
Daniil Kvyat says beating team-mate Daniel Ricciardo in the standings this year wouldn't be much of an achievement as it is not for the title.
After a slow start to life at the senior team, the Russian has found his feet and moved ahead of Ricciardo in the drivers' championship after a fourth-place finish in Belgium.
While beating the person in identical machinery is usually a key indicator of a driver's pace, Kvyat was keen to downplay the importance.
"We are not fighting for the championship, we are just P7 and P8 in the championship so I wouldn't say it would be a massive achievement," Kvyat told Sky Sports News HQ.
"But I think this year it has already been seen that we are close to each other, we can fight with each other which is important for me to know. When the real chance comes we can talk about it again."
2015 has proved to be a difficult season for Red Bull with Kvyat's second-place in Hungary the team's best result. It is widely expected that Red Bull will split from engine partner Renault at the end of the season and move to Ferrari and the Russian has faith the right decisions will be made.
"The team want to get back on the winning path and hopefully we can do that. I'm sure our team management will take the best decisions to do that," he added.
"Our goal is we want to win again. I trust the team's decisions, we all want to win in the team so I think everything will be done for that. There are some people inside our team who have a better clue as to what would be best for our car, but we will see what happens."
On the other side of the garage, team-mate Ricciardo doesn't care what engine Red Bull end up with in 2016, as long as it is the quickest one they can get.
"My preference is whatever is fastest. People talk about the badges, Mercedes, Ferrari, but whichever is going to give us a better chance of victories right now is what I want," the Australian said.
"If it gives us a better chance to win I don't really care what it is at this stage. The talks have gone on so long, and we've had a pretty challenging year, I think right now not only me as a driver, but as a team, we just want something that is going to see us on the podium more often and give us what we deserve as a group."
The Marina Bay Circuit places less of an emphasis on engine performance compared to the recent races at Spa and Monza which should see Red Bull become more competitive. Indeed Kvyat is even eyeing a second podium of the season.
"I think there is going to be a good chance, it is one of the tracks that suits us and our car maybe more than other tracks, but you never know what will happen on Sunday," he said.
"We will just try to do our normal job as best as we can."
