AlphaTauri

Kvyat questions why AlphaTauri driver decision is taking so long

Russian looks set to be replaced by Yuki Tsunoda

Sam Hall

Friday 11 December 2020 09:44

Daniil Kvyat enters the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix not knowing if the race will be his last in Formula 1 with AlphaTauri yet to announce its plans for 2021.

Kvyat is racing in his third stint with the Red Bull junior team, yet it appears likely this weekend's race will be his last with Honda young driver Yuki Tsunoda poised to land the second seat alongside Pierre Gasly.

Asked again about his future, a frustrated Kvyat said: “This question gets asked all of the time. I don’t know why it takes so long for some sort of news to come out.

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"We had some preliminary chats I would say, but I think soon you will find out anyway and it’s better these questions are addressed to Helmut [Marko - head of Red Bull's driver development program].”

Heading into the final event of the year Kvyat, who trails team-mate Gasly by 39 points in the drivers' championship, believes the Frenchman's victory in the Italian Grand Prix has clouded his own strong results.

“I have had a very tough competition from Pierre this year," he added. "Of course, his win overshadowed anything good I did this year but it’s okay because he did a fantastic race [in Monza].

“I feel now I’m a lot more complete driver, and even though the pressure is high around me about my future, I am still able to perform at more than 100 per cent which in the past has been a bit of a problem for me.”

With his future uncertain Kvyat is keeping his options open, including spending time as a reserve driver as he did with Ferrari in 2018.

"I’m not ruling anything out at this point but my manager Nicolas Todt is looking around a lot, considering many options and we are in touch a lot of the time," said Kvyat.

“I am open to many things and of course I would consider this [a reserve role] as well but first I want to finish the season and then I will start taking decisions.

“Of course, in case I don’t have a seat for 2021 then I would want to do my best to come back to Formula 1 in 2022 but we will see.

“There are still many questions to answer, many options, many interesting opportunities and I just want to finish the year because I am having such a good rhythm right now in the second half of the year and I just want to give my best for the team in this last race of the year.”