Kvyat was 'anxious' about making Toro Rosso F1 return
Kvyat was 'anxious' about making Toro Rosso F1 return
Daniil Kvyat's brilliant podium finish at the German Grand Prix is the high point of the Russian's impressive return to Formula 1 with Toro Rosso. Much-maligned when he lost his Red Bull drive, and then a spot on the grid altogether, the Russian spoke to Rob Watts in Barcelona earlier this year about the nerves he felt ahead of making his comeback to the sport.
Daniil Kvyat admits he was anxious about making a Formula 1 return with Toro Rosso, but after a smooth pre-season the Russian feels ready to put the past behind him and says driving an F1 car has become "a pleasure" once again.
After becoming F1's youngest points scorer on his debut back in 2014, a dramatic rise and fall saw Kvyat promoted to Red Bull, before he was demoted again and eventually released by Toro Rosso in 2017, leaving many wondering whether he'd ever return to the F1 grid.
Now back with the team that bookended the first part of his F1 career, Kvyat explained to GPFans how he went from feeling unsure about getting back behind the wheel to now being eager to show people how he's changed as a driver.
"I was, to be fair, slightly anxious before the [Abu Dhabi] test," Kvyat said during pre-season testing in Barcelona.
"I had been a long time away from an F1 car and from F1… from track action, let's put it this way. It wasn't an easy few days leading up to it, but really happy days in another way also.
"Also, [there was] a question mark of how things would go after so long away - generally, the driving. Within five laps I was back to normal, and like Franz [Tost, team principal] said, it didn't feel like I had been away."
Kvyat describes how the time away from racing, taking simulator duties with Ferrari last year, has benefited him and says he expects the changes he's made will be reflected in his on-track performances this season.
"I think things are different to when I was here last. I think it was good in a way to have this year to put things together and to reflect on things, try to become better as a driver," said Kvyat.
"Hopefully the things I've changed in my approach to work in general and to driving will also be very well reflected on the track."
When asked if he'd considered rejecting the team that had effectively fired him 18 months previously, Kvyat said his desire to get back on the grid made it impossible for him to say no.
"Usually summer is the period when you can start to talk a lot [about future plans] and the first real proposal which came, which seemed real and was very direct, was from Helmut [Marko].
"I didn't think twice, no. I wanted to come back and I had a lot of things to do [with Toro Rosso], and I said I wanted to come back to do my best here. My hunger [to race] grew a lot through 2017.
"Now I feel quite back to normal I would say. I'm really into it now and really enjoying every process every time I get out in the car, it's a pleasure."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Hamilton 'emotional burden' heading into 2024 season revealed
- 36 minutes ago
Marko DIRECTLY addresses Verstappen quit rumours
- 1 hour ago
Vettel CONFIRMS F1 comeback and reveals what's holding it up
- 2 hours ago
- 1
Hamilton flooded with applications as F1 celebrity pal founds new team
- 2 hours ago
F1 News Today: Hamilton puts himself on the market with F1 set for TAKEOVER worth 'billions'
- 2 hours ago
EXCLUSIVE: Meeting F1's Max Verstappen - Red Bull star’s ‘cool’ canteen encounter
- 3 hours ago
F1 Race Calendar
-
GP BAHRAIN
29 Feb - 2 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP SAUDI ARABIA
7 - 9 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP AUSTRALIA
22 - 24 Mar
Carlos Sainz
- GP JAPAN 5 - 7 Apr
- GP CHINA 19 - 21 Apr
- GP USA 3 - 6 May
- GP ITALY 17 - 19 May
- GP MONACO 24 - 26 May
Related news
Ricciardo decision prompted famous Marko phone call to former F1 star
Former F1 star makes ‘no b*******’ claim after exit from sport
Marko gave former F1 star ‘take it or leave it’ Red Bull contract
Schumacher slams Germany's bleak F1 future as self-inflicted 'CATASTROPHE'
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860