In the run-up to the start of pre-season testing Motorsport Week brings you left-field reflections and stories of teams, drivers and reserves that will be part of the Formula 1 paddock in 2019.
The upcoming Formula 1 season will be Daniil Kvyat’s third stint with Toro Rosso.
He is one of four drivers on the 2019 grid to have multiple spells with the same team, after Kimi Raikkonen (Sauber 2001, 2019; Ferrari 2007-09, 2014-18), Nico Hulkenberg (Force India 2012, 2015-17) and Romain Grosjean (Renault/Lotus 2009, 2012-15). Technically, Antonio Giovinazzi could be added to the list, given his near-two-year gap between Grand Prix starts. But that’s another argument.
Of the current drivers only Kvyat has (or will have had) three stints at the same operation but it is not a unique achievement in history. Giancarlo Fisichella has three separate phases at the Silverstone-based outfit (two under Jordan, one as Force India) while Nick Heidfeld linked up with Sauber on three occasions.
Come Melbourne, where Toro Rosso has historically performed strongly, Kvyat could chalk up an achievement of sorts, should he make it into the top 10.
Kvyat scored points on his debut in 2014 courtesy of taking ninth while his second Toro Rosso debut also led to a top 10 finish – though for a handful of reasons it was an almost-ignored performance.
Kvyat’s second Toro Rosso debut came after he was ignominiously replaced at Red Bull by Max Verstappen, and the Dutchman stunned the paddock by taking victory on his first start for the team at the Spanish Grand Prix.
It came in the wake of the Mercedes drivers colliding, while team-mate Daniel Ricciardo and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel were both put on the slower three-stop strategy.
Another Red Bull protégé to shine that day was (second) home hero Carlos Sainz Jr., who put in a stellar showing to take sixth place.
Kvyat, meanwhile, gained a handful of places to round out the top 10 – and also set the fastest lap – to take a point on his Toro Rosso return.
Unfortunately for the Russian very few people noticed…
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