Toro Rosso has confirmed Daniil Kvyat will make a return to Formula 1 with the team in 2019.
The news had been expected with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko confirming an announcement was coming in Sochi and reports that the Russian was seen at Monza signing the deal.
Still, it marks a dramatic U-turn by the Austrian who dropped Kvyat a year ago, bringing to an end a dismal year-and-a-half which had begun with his demotion back to the junior team from Red Bull after a poor race in Sochi in 2016.
Even so, the 24-year-old is delighted to be back.
"First of all, I would like to thank Red Bull and Toro Rosso for giving me this opportunity to race in F1 again and I am particularly pleased to be returning to a team I know very well," he said.
"Toro Rosso has always made me feel at home and I’m sure it will still be the same next season."
Since his final appearance with the Faenza-based squad at the United States GP a year ago, Kvyat has been with Ferrari as a development driver and believes these past 12 months have been beneficial.
"Even if my duties were primarily simulator based, I’ve learnt a lot, and I now feel stronger and better prepared than when I left Toro Rosso," he claimed.
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Team boss Franz Tost also believes the team can expect a much different Kvyat on the grid next season compared to that which was given his marching orders.
"Daniil is a high skilled driver with fantastic natural speed, which he has proven several times in his career," said the Austrian.
"There were some difficult situations he had to face in the past, but I’m convinced that having had time to mature as a person away from the races will help him show his undeniable capabilities on track.
"We’ll push very hard to provide him with a good package, and I feel the best is yet to come from his side.
"That’s why we are happy to welcome him back to our team, to start a successful season together."
