Daniil Kvyat believes he returned to Formula 1 a “better driver” in 2019 after a strong year with Toro Rosso.
The 25-year-old embarked on his third stint with the junior Red Bull team keen to prove himself worthy of the chance after a season as a development driver with Ferrari in 2018.
And largely, he delivered, finishing a solid 13th in the Drivers’ standings, highlighted by a third-place finish in the wet at Hockenheim.
“I feel very satisfied, to be honest,” Kvyat told Formula1.com. “I would put it in line with one of my best years in F1 so I’m pretty happy.
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“Some races go your way, some races don’t go your way but this is how our midfield works, it’s very tight and some small mistake can cost you some opportunities.
“But these are the parts of our sport that we all know. I think this year I’ve been a better driver than my last years in F1.”
At the moment, however, there are some questions over the future of Russian sport after the anti-doping authority WADA banned the country from sending teams or participants to major events for the next four years, including the Olympics in 2020 and World Cup in 2022.
Motorsport also comes under the WADA banner which means potentially the Grand Prix in Sochi and Kvyat could be impacted by the ruling.
However, analysis by RaceFans indicates there is unlikely to be any action taken against either party.
First the Russian GP in Sochi, ironically where the doping scheme was discovered during the 2014 Winter Olympics, signed a contract with F1’s commercial rights holder in 2010, meaning it meets an exemption to the ban on international sporting events in the country.
“We are confident that the Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix will be held in 2020 and in the following years and invite everyone to Sochi,” organisers said. “The ticket sales are in full swing.”
And for Kvyat, the FIA actually sets stricter anti-doping regulations than WADA and there is nothing to suggest he has ever failed a drugs test, therefore, there is no basis on which to revoke his superlicence.
