Kvyat considered quitting racing before securing Ferrari test role

  • Published on 07 May 2020 11:07
  • comments 0
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Daniil Kvyat has revealed that he was seriously considering his future in racing towards the end of 2017 before he landed a test role at Ferrari.

The Russian was dumped out of the Red Bull programme and Formula 1 in 2017, a year after he was demoted from the senior team to Toro Rosso.

Kvyat signed with Ferrari as a test driver for the 2018 campaign, which boosted his confidence regarding his racing future, and he made a comeback with Toro Rosso in 2019.

Speaking to the Beyond The Grid podcast, Kvyat said: “In the end, I tested that year’s car once in Fiorano. And that was very emotional for me, because, first of all, it’s a Ferrari and Fiorano, a current car... it was really cool.

“I [hadn’t] driven anything for six months or something. I was enjoying it so much, and that day I understood I wanted to come back at any cost to Formula 1: ‘This is what I want to do, what I’m best at’.

“Also, that test was very strong, very consistent and good lap times and everybody was quite happy.

“I felt I had a lot of unfinished business in Formula 1. There were talks in different areas, but I always wanted [to drive] in Formula 1. I was considering stopping completely if I didn’t get a Formula 1 deal again.”

Kvyat worked with Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen at the team, helping the team improve during race weekends.

“It was great also to watch them work, two world champions, very experienced guys,” he said. “With Sebastian, once I think I was in Canada and my job was to look at onboard videos and try to pinpoint what was different.

“I said, ‘look you can take more chicane, more kerb on the chicane’, and he agreed and he tried it the next day, and it was better.”

Kvyat returned to the podium in 2019, crossing the line in second place at the German Grand Prix, securing his third top-three finish in F1.

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Alpine F1
  • Points 194
  • Podiums 3
  • Grand Prix 93
  • Country RU
  • Date of b. Apr 28 1994 (29)
  • Place of b. Ufa, RU
  • Weight 58 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar