Perez, Massa and Grosjean all back Kvyat to keep career on track
Friday 13 May 2016 12:11, UK
Daniil Kvyat can recover from losing his Red Bull seat and still enjoy successful years in F1, according to other drivers who rebounded from early career disappointments.
Rival drivers have expressed sympathy for Kvyat, who was sent back to Toro Rosso with Max Verstappen going the other way to Red Bull for the remainder of the season.
And although the 22-year-old's F1 career has hit its first stumbling block after a swift rise through the ranks, those who have expressed similar early setbacks have insisted the episode does not have to represent the beginning of the end for the Russian's time at the top level.
Force India's Sergio Perez has rebuilt his reputation after being dropped by McLaren after a single season in 2013 and said Kvyat is "a very strong driver, mentally as well, and he will overcome that impact for a driver".
Asked how easy it would be for the Russian to recover, Perez replied: "It's obviously very hard to do that. It was the same with me when McLaren dropped me. People suddenly stopped believing in me.
"People in F1 have very short memories. They won't remember his podiums or the great momentum he had at Toro Rosso, or why they chose him in the first place. They won't remember that, they will just remember that he didn't perform and they dropped him.
"If he has to deliver results he will rebuild his reputation. If he's not with Red Bull, he might find another alternative in the future."
Williams' Felipe Massa, now one of the grid's most experienced drivers, reverted to a test driver role with Ferrari for a season after his debut campaign racing for Sauber in 2002 ended with an abrupt contract termination.
Kvyat 'shocked' by Red Bull demotion
The 35-year-old, who went on to win 11 grands prix and finish runner-up in the 2008 world championship, has urged Kvyat to keep believing in himself and follow the path of others.
"In Formula 1, it's difficult to have a chance, so when you have one chance you need to prove yourself," Massa said.
"I did a good championship on my first year. I had one fifth [place], two sixths and lots of sevenths, which had no points at that time, so I did a good championship. I crashed a lot and Peter Sauber didn't like to see his car in the wall! I don't know why I lost my drive in the first year.
"The second chance in F1 is even more difficult. But it can happen - like it happened for me, for Fernando [Alonso], maybe Mika Hakkinen. You need to believe."
Romain Grosjean's early years in F1 proved particularly tumultuous amid a series of crashes and the now Haas driver admits "I was either going back home or getting my s*** together".
"It's great that Red Bull has got two teams, so you can swap drivers," he added. "Daniil had only one year in Formula 1 and then went straight to Red Bull [in 2015] and only four more grands prix [this year]. It's the same with Max.
"I think it's Franz [Tost, Toro Rosso's team boss] who says you need three years to be up to and ready to go to a big team. We're all different and I think it's kind of easier to start in a smaller team than a big team."
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