Daniil Kvyat can deeply empathize with the pain Daniel Ricciardo is currently experiencing due to losing his seat at Visa RB to Liam Lawson. The Russian driver himself lost his position at Red Bull to Max Verstappen in 2016, who immediately went on to win the Grand Prix of Spain. For Kvyat, the ‘swap’ was a mental blow. “It was certainly not easy,” he admits, with a sense of understatement.
In an extensive interview, Kvyat reflects on his Formula 1 career and shares about his new adventure as a factory driver for Lamborghini. Here’s a sneak peek into the conversation.
Reflecting on Your Formula 1 Career
“I look back on my Formula 1 career with mixed feelings. I will always view it with the knowledge that I didn’t reach my full potential. I had the potential to at least compete for the championship as a driver. Of course, luck plays a role. In Formula 1, many factors determine whether you win or lose. And you’re always dependent on the equipment you have at your disposal, as we’ve clearly seen recently. Essentially, the car often dictates who finishes first, fifth, and tenth. In other words, the stars also need to be somewhat in your favor in Formula 1. That is, you end up as the best driver in the best car. Of course, to win, you need to do many things right, but what I’m trying to say is that you also need some circumstances on your side. And that wasn’t always the case for me.”
Observing the Hype Around Max Verstappen, Your Successor at Red Bull
“As I said, I know my worth as a driver, and in a championship-worthy car, I would certainly have been a contender for the championship. I don’t like to use big words and say that I would have easily won, because the competition in Formula 1 is fierce and always has been. That’s how it should be, and that’s why we all want to race in Formula 1. We all love that intense competition. Looking back, I got my chance at Red Bull when the car was, to put it mildly, not great. And of course, Max, but also Sebastian Vettel before him, got his chance at Red Bull when the car was very strong.”
That Must Be Quite Bitter for You, I Imagine
“As I said, the circumstances need to cooperate. And they didn’t work in my favor.”
