Daniil Kvyat says his return to F1 with Toro Rosso in 2019 can be put in the list of his best seasons in motor racing of his career.
After losing his F1 drive at the end of the 2017 F1 season, Kvyat signed with Ferrari as a simulator driver but Red Bull took him back albeit for Toro Rosso in 2019 as the Russian made his return to full-time racing alongside rookie Alexander Albon.
There was a mid-season change like Kvyat himself faced in 2016 as Albon was sent to Red Bull Racing and Pierre Gasly got along with the Russian. It didn’t deter his run though as the 25-year-old enjoyed a good run with the Faenza-based outfit.
So much so that, Kvyat returned to the podium in German GP, which was his first since the 2016 Chinese GP, when he was racing with Red Bull. He eventually finished 13th in drivers’ standings with 37 points but felt much better confidence wise than what he did in 2017.
He, in fact, termed it as one of his best years in F1 as he could sense that he drove better than what he did in 2016-2017. “I feel very satisfied [with how my season went], to be honest,” said Kvyat. “I would put it in line with one of my best years in F1.
“I’m pretty happy. Some races go your way, some races don’t go your way but this is how our midfield works, it’s very tight and some small mistake can cost you some opportunities like myself in Brazil for example. I definitely lost a very big opportunity there.
“But these are the parts of our sport that we all know. I think this year I have been a lot more better driver than my last years in F1.” Even on the team side, Kvyat felt Toro Rosso did well as it equaled its best result of sixth, which they finished in 2008.
“Certainly it was a very strong year for Toro Rosso, perhaps the best in the history you may say,” said Kvyat. “It’s obviously great to be able to fight for a very high position in the constructors’ championship, the highest it has been in recent years.
“It is great to be a part of it and the atmosphere in the team this year has been good. I think the team has always performed very well; since the beginning of the year it was quite consistently in the points and always taking the opportunities quite well.
“Whether with strategy or opportunity, we were taking points which weren’t even there, to still get them was very crucial sometimes and now at the end of the year we find ourselves in a good strong position, so certainly it was also a very good boost for next year.”
Christian Horner speaks on Red Bull’s chances for F1 2020
Here’s Pierre Gasly on his driving at Toro Rosso and Red Bull
Alpha Tauri unveiling set for February
Christian Horner highlights Alexander Albon’s debut season
