Red Bull confirm Kvyat rumours

Christian Horner has confirmed that former Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat is being considered by Toro Rosso for a 2019 race drive. The Russian was dropped by the Red Bull sister team last year after being comprehensively outperformed by Carlos Sainz Jr.

Pierre Gasly's promotion to Red Bull has left the junior squad short of options for next year - top academy prospect Dan Ticktum is unable to secure a super licence in time for 2019.

Brendon Hartley has teamed with Gasly in 2018, but the Kiwi is yet to convince fully and saw his future in the team put into doubt by a mid-season bid for McLaren's Lando Norris.

If McLaren do not give Norris a race seat alongside Sainz in 2019, he could still be of interest to Toro Rosso as they seek a makeweight in any deal that will take technical director James Key to Woking.

However, with potential drivers light on the ground, Kvyat could have another chance to resurrect his F1 career.

"There are always rumours this time of year, Monza being a hotbed of that," he told Sky Sports.

"I think the situation with Toro Rosso is pretty open, so I think everything is being considered. He's one of several drivers who is on the list."

The Russian had a rollercoaster career in F1 after making his debut for Toro Rosso as a 19-year-old in 2014.

After just one season he was promoted to Red Bull as four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel's replacement and outscored Daniel Ricciardo in the 2015 campaign.

However, an error-strewn start to 2016 - which saw him crash into Vettel twice in the opening four rounds - piled pressure on the Russian, with extra scrutiny added as Max Verstappen's camp sought a swift ascension.

They were swapped at the Spanish Grand Prix, which Verstappen won, but Kvyat's confidence never recovered and he scored points in just five of the following 31 races, which prompted Toro Rosso to drop him and draft in Hartley.

Kvyat made one final appearance at last year's United States Grand Prix, with Gasly absent chasing the Super Formula title, but a 10th-place finish was not enough to earn a full-time seat and the Russian has spent 2018 serving as a test and development driver for Ferrari.