Months before demotion at Red Bull, Kvyat refused Ferrari offer

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Ferrari had Kvyat on list in 2016
15 April 2023 at 11:57
Last update 15 April 2023 at 12:50
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  • GPblog.com

Daniil Kvyat was nominated to switch to Ferrari in 2016. The 28-year-old Russian revealed this in the podcast Track Limits. However, Kvyat decided to stay loyal to Red Bull Racing, his then employer.

Things can change

Ferrari saw Kvyat as Kimi Räikkönen's replacement, but a switch did not materialise. The 95-time Grand Prix contender opted for a longer stay at Red Bull, but in hindsight that did not prove to be the best choice. At the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, Kvyat was moved back to Toro Rosso and Max Verstappen got his seat.

"I was performing really well. And I just scored another podium for the team [at the 2016 Chinese Grand Prix] and then at the time I had also a proposal to race for Ferrari to replace Kimi. That was going on behind the curtain," Kvyat said. "So it was a very difficult situation also for me mentally to to go back from being wanted by Ferrari and having seen the contract and then you go back to Toro Rosso suddenly and then you’re like, it’s not going very well suddenly.”

Kvyat was replaced by Pierre Gasly at Toro Rosso after the 2017 Singapore Grand Prix. In 2018, he was Ferrari's reserve driver before returning to Toro Rosso in 2019. His last Formula 1 race dates from November 2020, the Abu Dhabi GP.

Kvyat's name dropped more often this week

Kvyat's name came up several times again last week. Indeed, the former Formula 1 driver is facing a test in a Formula E car, although he does not yet appear to be returning to the single seaters in 2024. Indeed, he has signed a contract in the WEC with Lamborghini for 2024, although it is not inconceivable that he will combine his seat there with driving in another racing class.

Kvyat with special reveal