“Experienced drivers are always wanted,” Former Russian F1 driver eyes potential return to the paddock
The political risks of signing Russian drivers are too much to overlook for teams in F1, and the drivers available to sign never proved themselves worthy of a seat when given a chance in the past.
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Daniil Kvyat and Nikita Mazepin
Daniil Kvyat raced for Red Bull, Toro Rosso, and Alpha Tauri between 2014 and 2020. The Russian’s career at the Red Bull family was average, characterized by inconsistency throughout his stints. He was finally dropped at the end of 2020 for the then-F2 champion Yuki Tsunoda, with the team favoring the prospect of the Japanese star. The Ban of Russian Athletes from F1 after Ukraine has also hindered his career.
In a recent interview with MotorsportTotal.com, Daniil Kvyat was asked about the possibility of a return to Formula 1. He replied, “Experienced drivers are always in demand, particularly when you consider the performances of some of the rookies in recent years. There seems to be a shortage of strong rookies at the moment, so why not?”
The experienced Russian evidently believes that the rookies, who are meant to be the hottest prospects on the grid, aren’t living up to expectations with their performances. He is keeping his options open for a return to Formula One, should a team be willing to avail his services in the future.
Daniil Kvyat’s return to F1 is highly unlikely
Daniil Kvyat’s Formula One career is highly unlikely to resume, due to a variety of factors. Russian sustained a ban, due to the FIA not permitting Russian drivers to race as a result of the extreme political situation between Russia and Ukraine. The FIA amended this, however, drawing up a ‘driver commitment’, and allowed them to race under a neutral flag, provided they expressed no support for the invasion of Ukraine. Nonetheless, Kvyat was unable to find a team willing to provide him with a seat.
During his career, Kvyat secured three podium finishes, one pole position, and two fastest laps. He accumulated a total of 191 points throughout his career but did not ever secure a win. In 2020, Alpha Tauri and Red Bull released him from their driver program, and Kvyat hasn’t appeared in Formula One since.
Kvyat’s prospects of making a return to Formula One seem highly unlikely, given he has been out of the sport for so long, along with the fact that teams prefer rookies such as the talented Oscar Piastri and Nyck de Vries. Apart from this, there are talented drivers such as Daniel Ricciardo and Mick Schumacher also in the market for a team. These drivers do not come with any political risks. This renders the World Endurance Championship to be Kvyat’s best shot at a seat in motorsport at the moment.
Recently, Lamborghini Squadra Corse Factory officially named Daniil Kvyat as one of their drivers. Kvyat is set to test the company’s Hypercar prototype extensively throughout this year before joining the Lamborghini Iron Lynx team in the FIA WEC in 2024. This announcement comes as Kvyat is expected to debut in the championship after a year of testing with the Lamborghini Squadra Corse Factory. This will secure the Russian and Italian Racing License, which he will race under in the 24 hours of Le Mans.
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Justin P Joy
(4970 Articles Published)