Daniil Kvyat, the former Red Bull driver, is increasingly less focused on making a comeback in Formula 1. However, the Russian racer is confident that he would perform well at the highest level. “If I were given the opportunity, I would do well and perform strongly, I am convinced of that,” says Kvyat.
In an in-depth interview, Kvyat (30) talks about his new life as a factory driver for Lamborghini and reflects on his much-discussed ‘swap’ in 2016, when he was demoted from Red Bull to Scuderia Toro Rosso in favor of Max Verstappen.
Transition to World Endurance Racing
These days, Kvyat is primarily active in the World Endurance Racing, something he thoroughly enjoys. “The life around it is less hectic than I was used to in Formula 1. In the WEC, you deal with fewer races, media, fewer TV cameras, but don’t be mistaken, it’s one of the biggest championships next to Formula 1, especially now that so many car manufacturers are participating,” explains Kvyat.
Exciting and Competitive Racing
“The racing is very cool. And competitive. It’s different from Formula 1, but the cars are interesting to race with. At Lamborghini, we’ve started a new project with a new car, so there’s a lot of work to be done to further improve the car. We started from scratch, so there’s still a lot to do in terms of development. That’s an area where your influence as a driver is sometimes limited, but you’re largely dependent on it. I hope we can make quick progress,” he adds.
Watching F1 on a Lazy Sunday
How closely do you still follow Formula 1?
“To say I follow it closely might be a bit of an exaggeration. I think I watch about fifty percent of the races when I’m at home and having a lazy Sunday. But if I’m busy, I don’t watch. Of course, I do follow all the developments from a distance.”
Do you still have ambitions as an F1 driver?
“That’s hard to say. I know my worth and qualities as a driver. If I were given the chance, I would do well and perform strongly, I’m convinced of that. But Formula 1 is a small world with only twenty seats available and a lot of politics come into play when distributing those seats. All the conversations I’ve had about a possible return to Formula 1 have led nowhere. So to be honest, I think about it less and less.”
You mentioned the political influences in Formula 1. Speaking of politics, to what extent is your Russian nationality still a complicating factor for you, given the war in Ukraine and international sanctions against Russia?
“Personally, it’s not a problem for me, but for others it (his Russian nationality) might be a problem and I have to respect that. I’ve been racing under an Italian license for a long time, so from a sporting point of view, there’s nothing wrong. But we also know that it – especially in Formula 1 – is sometimes more than just sport.”
