Daniil Kvyat says the push towards “perfect” circuits is the “wrong direction” after taking his AlphaTauri for a spin in Imola last week.
The Russian and his teammate Pierre Gasly were the first drivers to test modern Formula 1 machinery around the famous venue since it regained Grade 1 FIA status, making it eligible to host a Grand Prix again.
Indeed, Imola has been touted as a possible stand-in should F1 need to fill its 2020 calendar, though other circuits, namely Mugello, Portimao and Hockenheim, are thought to be ahead in that queue.
Even so, for Kvyat, the test highlighted to him the lack of character most new venues have.
“It was a great track, I knew it already from past experiences, I always thought it was a very exciting track to drive,” he told The Race.
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“It’s quite old school, it’s quite bumpy, the kerbs are challenging.
“We can learn that changing tracks too much and trying to make them all similar, installing the same kerbs everywhere or to be too afraid of bumpiness and trying to make all tracks too perfect, I think is the wrong direction to take in Formula 1 and racing in general.
“So that’s probably the good thing about Imola, I had a lot of pleasure to drive there, and it was cool.”
Of course, F1 itself hasn’t raced at the former San Marino GP track since 2006 and in modern cars, the corners are faster than ever.
“An F1 car through corners like Acque Minerali, the entrance is so fast, it’s so cool, it really gives you a lot of adrenaline,” Kvyat said.
“It gave me very good emotions to drive on.”
Teammate Gasly equally gave glowing praise to Imola.
“Just the history of that track makes it really special,” he said.
“With the downforce and the speed we go out with these Formula 1 cars, still kind of old tracks with pretty small run-off areas, the adrenaline was incredible, so I would really like to see Imola on the calendar.”