Thursday May 5, 2016 will remain a notable day in the history of Formula 1. That day, Red Bull made the decision to replace one of its two starting drivers, the Russian Daniil Kvyat, with the young Dutch talent Max Verstappen, who drove for Toro Rosso. A sudden but logical choice due to the start of the season for the Russian who, despite a podium in China, was above all at the center of the debates because of his incidents with Vettel in China, but especially in Russia, where, twice, Kvyat came to touch the German driver’s Ferrari, which ended up sending him into the wall. For him, the situation was all the more difficult because, from his first Grand Prix with Red Bull in Spain, Max Verstappen took advantage of the clash between the two Mercedes to win his first victory.
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A demotion from which the Russian never recovered
Very quickly, the Russian realized that his chance had just passed and that he could no longer return to a top team. Finally demoted to the Italian team with Carlos Sainz in 2016 and 2017, the Russian even left the discipline for a year before returning to AlphaTauri (formerly Toro Rosso) alongside Pierre Gasly in 2019 and 2020, time to glean his last podium at the 2019 German Grand Prix. Despite everything, the Russian recently admitted to the media that he would have liked to have had a better career, having been seen as a promising young driver when he arrived in the category in 2014, since he had just won the GP3 championship the previous year.
“I will always look back on this period knowing that I did not make the most of this opportunity. I had the potential to at least fight for the championship as a driver. Of course, luck plays a role. In Formula 1, it depends on many factors whether you win or not. And you’re still dependent on the hardware you have, as we’ve clearly seen recently. » The Russian believes he has never had the equipment that could allow him to show his full potential, a factor that unfortunately often happens in Formula 1, where you have to be able to be in the right place at the right time. “In fact, it is often the car that dictates who finishes first, fifth or tenth”Kvyat told Formula1.nl.
Bad luck at Red Bull according to Kvyat
“In other words, the stars also have to be somewhat aligned for you in Formula 1, so that you end up in the best car as the best driver. Of course, to win you have to do a lot of things right, but what I’m trying to say is that you also have to have a certain number of circumstances on your side. And that wasn’t always given to me. » The Russian continued by indicating that Verstappen, for his part, had this chance, which allowed him to prove his worth to the Austrian team, who made him their team leader. Ultimately a wise choice since the Dutchman won three championships with this team.
“As I said, I know what I’m worth as a driver and, in a car capable of winning a championship, I certainly would have been a title contender. Looking back, I had my chance at Red Bull when the car was not, so to speak, great. And of course, Max, but also Sebastian Vettel before him, had their chance at Red Bull when the car was very efficient. The circumstances must be favorable. And they weren’t for me. » Striking words from a driver who could have had a better career.
However, F1 is a difficult environment where every mistake can be fatal, and the Russian has paid the price. Despite everything, we will remember him for a fairly long career, filled with highs (three podiums in Formula 1) but also lows, and which could ultimately have taken another turn, which would have completely changed the course of history in Formula. 1 in the following years, with Verstappen who might not have had his chance at Red Bull.
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