Toro Rosso confirm Gasly's 2019 replacement

Toro Rosso have confirmed that Daniil Kvyat will return to the team in 2019. Russian Kvyat will replace the Red Bull-bound Pierre Gasly, just over a year after being dropped from the feeder team after a dramatic loss of form.

Kvyat has 72 grand prix starts under his belt, across two spells with Toro Rosso and an ill-fated stint at Red Bull.

A critical 2016 Russian Grand Prix, in which Kvyat twice crashed with Sebastian Vettel on the opening lap, prompted Red Bull to switch Max Verstappen to the senior team and demote Kvyat, who was subsequently vastly outperformed by Carlos Sainz Jr.

However, with Gasly stepping up to replace Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso's options have been thin, prompting a second chance for Kvyat, who has served as a Ferrari simulator driver in 2018.

"First of all, I would like to thank Red Bull and Toro Rosso for giving me this opportunity to race in Formula 1 again and I am particularly pleased to be returning to a team I know very well," Kvyat said.

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"Toro Rosso has always made me feel at home and I'm sure it will still be the same next season.

"I would also like to thank Ferrari for trusting my driving skills which allowed me to stay connected to F1 as their development driver. Even if my duties were primarily simulator based, I've learnt a lot, and I now feel stronger and better prepared than when I left Toro Rosso.

"I never gave up hope of racing again, I am still young and I have kept in good shape to always be prepared in case another opportunity presented itself. I will give my best to deliver what the team expects from me and I can't wait for everything to start again."

Toro Rosso did not announce who would team with the Russian, although rumours have begun to grow that Brendon Hartley could retain his seat, despite an underwhelming first full F1 season.

European F3 rivals Dan Ticktum, a member of Red Bull's junior programme, and Mick Schumacher have been reported as potential options, as have the likes of Stoffel Vandoorne and Esteban Ocon – however the latter's Mercedes links are likely to rule him out of a move.

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