Daniil Kvyat: “Life sometimes takes interesting detours”

At Hockenheim, you claimed to have sent a message with your 3rd place. Who was it addressed to? To those responsible for Red Bull Racing ?

There is no specific recipient. The message is: I am a better driver today than I have ever been. I didn't ask anyone anything. Ultimately, those in charge will make their decisions. For the moment, I fly at Toro Rosso but, in the longer term, I want to fight for podiums and victories. Red Bull management will decide in the end.

Over the past three seasons, was there a time when you said to yourself that your career F1 was finished?

Exactly a year ago, I was at home in Monaco, wondering if I wanted to continue racing or stop my career. Twelve months later, I found myself on the podium with Toro Rosso at the German Grand Prix. The first for the team in 11 years (victory of Sebastian Vettel at Monza in 2008. Editor’s note). It's crazy how fast things can go in life. It wasn't an easy time, but it's times like these that you discover what you really want. I had several offers to drive in other categories but I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue driving if it wasn't in F1. I was in the middle of a debate with myself when Helmut (Marko, Red Bull advisor and head of the young drivers sector. Editor's note) called me.

How did you react ?

Before returning to F1, I had to put things in perspective and see how I could improve as a driver, but also as a person. Losing my seat was hard to swallow and at one point I thought I would never come back. From the moment I received the phone call, I did everything I could to make sure I came back as prepared as possible, physically and mentally. These efforts are paying off and I am delighted. I am very happy with those around me, with the way we work with the team. It is important to confirm these great arrangements with big results. This first half of the season has been very solid and I hope we can continue this dynamic.

Franz Tost, your team principal, emphasizes the importance of your time in the Ferrari simulator. What have you learned from Maranello ?

In terms of pure driving, not much, but that's no surprise. There was a technical aspect that I cannot reveal because it is confidential. Afterwards, I had my head on the handlebars, I worked hard, surrounded by competent people, Italians and you know that I am a little Italian myself. It was great working there. I was very happy, especially at the beginning. I said “yes” to everything, I did some extra work. And then, summer arrived and I really wanted to come back to F1. The prospects weren't exactly great, but if you want something like starving, the opportunities show up. The key is that I found the flame again, the passion returned. It declined in 2016 and 2017.

Looking back, wasn't the scenario of your career written too quickly, between your move to F1 directly from GP3 then your express promotion to Red Bull Racing?

Not really. If I had had a season of Formula 2, maybe I would have been even more ready but, at the time, I had good results and I think the timing was good actually. Everything was fine. My career was growing rapidly. There was nothing unusual. Everything seemed natural.

You were not spared from criticism after your first return to Toro Rosso. Do you think we sometimes forget that pilots are human beings like everyone else?

Difficult to give an answer to this somewhat philosophical question. Formula 1 is an environment where you are constantly under pressure and there can only be one winner for every 20 competitors. At the time, I didn't think the remarks were very cool, that's for sure. I had never really had a first-lap incident in my career, and after a bad race (in Sochi in 2016, editor's note), people fell on me. I had to protect myself from criticism, but it wasn't easy to avoid them. This event triggered a big negative spiral that was difficult to stop. I'm not angry with anyone, but some people do have a tendency to judge too quickly.

You have never criticized Red Bull publicly. How important is it not to practice scorched earth politics in a world as small as motorsport?

We went through a difficult phase between us, but we wash our dirty laundry as a family. It would have been easy to burn all ties and criticize, but I didn't want to give Red Bull any reason not to want to work with me again in the future. We shook hands and left as good friends. Life takes some interesting twists and turns sometimes, and look where we are today.

If we go back to this season, even before your podium, you had achieved solid points finishes. Gold Albon seems to generate more interest. Does that annoy you?

I concentrate on my job, so I don't pay attention to what is written about my teammate or me. I knew I was doing a really good job. I'am aware. I don't care what the media makes of it. Journalists will always have their opinion. The main thing is that decision-makers know what is happening. They have all the data at their disposal.

Do you think that Pierre Gasly is going through a phase similar to the one you faced in 2016-2017? (The Frenchman was demoted to Toro Rosso last week)

I don't know. It's not the kind of subject I devote too much attention to. It's unfair to comment on another driver's situation. Each runner is unique. Everyone adapts and reacts differently to this or that situation. He'd probably tell you the same thing.

To conclude on a lighter note: it seems that you lose a few tenths on the track when you become a father. What is your plan to stay fast after the birth of your first child?

I think I demonstrated in Germany that I was still as fast as ever (his daughter Pénélope was born on the Saturday of the German GP. Editor's note). If this urban legend is true, then maybe I could have won at Hockenheim! (Laughs)