Daniel Ricciardo's Old Teammate Just Got Sacked

Too Slow?


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The 'Red Bull' band (Verstappen, Sainz, Kvyat, Ricciardo) is not getting back together 

Red Bull Racing boss Helmut Marko has had enough.

Daniil Kvyat's days of racing in Formula 1 for Red Bull and Toro Rosso are done.

"We do not believe he can make the turnaround in the long term," said Marko.

The decision puts the Russian's future F1 in doubt unless someone else wants him to race for them in 2018.

Kvyat's last Grand Prix was in Texas when he finished in the final points paying position in 10th after a two race absence for Toro Rosso.

Daniil has lots to ponder next year

But after a chequered (pun unintended) few seasons racing between the two Red Bull-owned teams, Kvyat's out of a job.

"Gasly and Hartley are finishing the season. Then we will see what happens."

Frenchman Pierre Gasly entered the season as a test driver and is favoured to get one of the full-time drives next season.

While Brendon Hartley received the shock call-up for last weekend's US Grand Prix from the World Endurance Championship.

The 27 year old Kiwi and former tester hadn't steered a Formula 1 car in five years and had thought his F1 chance had come and gone.

Hartley finished a not-too-shabby 13th on debut.

It's been a rollercoaster ride for 23 year old Kvyat who was promoted to Red Bull to replace Sebastian Vettel after a single season with Toro Rosso in 2014.

A 2nd place in Hungary in 2015 and a third in China in 2016 were the only highlights of that run as Daniel Ricciardo drove circles around the Russian.

After colliding with Vettel at the next race, Kvyat was dropped back to the sister team at the Spanish Grand Prix in favour of highly-rated Dutch teen Max Verstappen.

But the Russian never really got it together and was overshadowed by Spaniard Carlos Sainz (who departed for Renault before Texas).

Kvyat told Sky he's already been thinking about other roads to take in motorsport if he can't grab a seat elsewhere on the grid next season.

"If you're asking me if I have a Plan B or C, yeah I do have a few thoughts," he said.

"Formula 1 is not everything. There are other good opportunities in this life."

Forza 7 on the XBox perhaps?

 

 

Sean Maynard

10 December 2018

Article by:

Sean Maynard




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