Sky Sports Channel Logo

F1 News

News

  • News
  • Video
  • Live
  • Opinion
  • Gossip
  • Drivers & Teams
  • Schedule & Results
  • Standings
  • Stats Zone
  • Get Sky F1

Daniil Kvyat split decision explained by Red Bull bosses

Gasly and Hartley in box seat to keep Toro Rosso drives for 2018

By James Galloway in Mexico City

Last Updated: 30/10/17 12:33pm

Red Bull have defended their decision to part ways with Daniil Kvyat, saying the time was right to look to the future.

As reported by Sky Sports on Wednesday, Kvyat has lost his Toro Rosso seat and been dropped from the Red Bull stable to end a relationship which began in 2010, when the Russian was 15 years old.

The Formula 1 Gossip Column

Red Bull have been criticised in some quarters for the decision, with Kvyat brought back after a two-race absence last weekend in Austin only to be shown the door despite finishing in the points on his return.

However, after four seasons and 72 races in the sport in which he has driven for both of the energy drink company's teams, Christian Horner believes the time is right for Kvyat and the Red Bull family to move on.

"Dany Kvyat has obviously had a large investment from Red Bull over the years," said the Red Bull team boss at the Mexican GP.

"He had the opportunity to step into Red Bull Racing and compete in the 2015 season and the start of the 2016 season with the team. Formula 1 is a tough business and unfortunately Dany didn't do enough, in our opinion, to warrant retaining that seat.

Daniil Kvyat versus his F1 team-mates

Year Team-mate Team Qualifying* Points*
2014 Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso 11-7 8-22
2015 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 7-12 95-92
2016 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 0-4 21-36
2016 Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso 5-11 4-42
2017 Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso 6-8 4-48
2017 Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso 1-0 1-0
TOTAL 30-42 133-240
*Kvyat score first

"But we still believed in him and he was given a second opportunity, which is very unusual in Formula 1, to retake the seat with Toro Rosso.

"And then from there we obviously have other juniors that we have invested in that are knocking on the door of Formula 1."

The drivers in question are 21-year-old Pierre Gasly and 27-year-old Brendon Hartley, who are racing for Toro Rosso in Mexico this weekend and are now set to see out the season.

Sky Sports News’ Rachel Brookes conducts what turned out to be Daniil Kvyat's final sit-down interview as a Toro Rosso driver

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Sky Sports

Sky Sports News’ Rachel Brookes conducts what turned out to be Daniil Kvyat's final sit-down interview as a Toro Rosso driver
Sky Sports News’ Rachel Brookes conducts what turned out to be Daniil Kvyat's final sit-down interview as a Toro Rosso driver

Horner described them as "two exciting prospects for Red Bull Racing potentially further down the line" and Franz Tost, Toro Rosso's team principal, has dropped a strong hint that they will form the team's 2018 line-up.

Also See:

  • Kvyat leaves Toro Rosso
  • The Formula 1 Gossip Column

"Both are Red Bull drivers, both are high-skilled drivers, fast drivers and we want to test them for the rest of the season, because there is a high possibility that this will be the driver line-up for 2018," said Tost.

Kvyat's F1 options for 2018 now appear thin. Horner told Sky F1 that the Russian would represent a good fit for Williams, but the 23-year-old would appear to be behind Robert Kubica, Paul Di Resta, Pascal Wehrlein and Felipe Massa for the one vacant seat at the Grove team.

Trending

  • 1
    Transfer Centre: Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, Spurs latest
  • 2
    Papers: Chelsea could make last-ditch Caicedo bid
  • 3
    Arsenal transfer rumours: Gunners considering late Jorginho move
  • 4
    Chelsea close to agreeing Fernandez deal as Blues make £105.6m bid
  • 5
    Why are Chelsea so desperate to sign Enzo Fernandez?
  • 6
    £495m spent on 17 new players - but what is Chelsea's best XI?
  • 7
    FA Cup fifth-round draw: Wrexham could host Spurs, Man City go to Bristol City
  • 8
    Arsenal's world-record bid for Man Utd's Russo rejected
  • 9
    Man Utd transfer rumours: Inter Milan make shock Maguire enquiry
  • 10
    Tottenham reach Porro breakthrough with £39m deal close
  • Video
  • Latest News
  • Home
  • Sports
    • Football
    • F1
    • Cricket
    • Rugby Union
    • Rugby League
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • NFL
    • Tennis
    • Racing
    • Darts
    • NBA
    • Netball
    • GAA
    • MMA
    • More Sports
  • Scores
  • Video
  • TV
  • Sky Bet
  • Games
  • More
    • Transfer Centre
    • Live on Sky
    • Get Sky Sports
    • TV Shows
    • TV Guide
    • Sky Go
    • Now TV
    • Kick It Out
    • Black Lives Matter
    • Sky Zero
    • Podcasts
    • Mobile
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Contact Us
    • Work @ Sky Sports
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Sky Sports
    • Get Sky Sports
    • Sky Sports Apps
    • Sportinglife.com
    • TEAMtalk.com
    • Football365.com
  • Partners
    • Sky Bet
    • Fantasy Football
    • Super 6
    • Planet Rugby
    • Golf365
    • Planet F1
    • Cricket365
  • Sky Sports Channels
    • Sky Sports Main Event
    • Sky Sports Premier League
    • Sky Sports Football
    • Sky Sports Cricket
    • Sky Sports Golf
    • Sky Sports Racing
    • Sky Sports F1
    • Sky Sports Action
    • Sky Sports Arena
    • Sky Sports News
    • Sky Sports Mix
  • More Sky Sites
    • Sky.com
    • Sky News
    • Sky Group
    • Sky For Businesses
    • Work @ Sky Sports
    • NOW TV
    • Sky Communal TV
    • Bigger Picture
    • Store Locator
    • Advertise With Us
    • Sky TV Accessories
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy & Cookies Notice
  • Privacy Options
  • Accessibility Information
  • Contact Us

Sky Sports Channel Logo ©2023 Sky UK