Daniil Kvyat was satisfied after earning “one of the most difficult points” of his Formula 1 career at the Australian Grand Prix.
Starting in the lower half of the midfield, the Russian benefited from a longer first stint as he overhauled those who had been stuck behind Antonio Giovinazzi.
He still spent the entire race as part of a train of his own, however, with Lance Stroll in front and Pierre Gasly behind and admitted it was a pretty intense afternoon.
“It wasn’t an easy one, one of the most difficult points earned I would say,” the Toro Rosso driver stated.
“But [it was] very satisfying at the same time because we kept a quicker car behind us the whole race.
“It’s very encouraging for us as a team. We were catching a lot the teams ahead of us too. I think [there is] many positives from this race.
“My race was just battling a lot from Lap 1 until Lap 58. I was constantly battling someone in front or behind, defending. It was a very demanding race, but as I said, it happened a bit of everything today.
“Nothing can scare me any more really.”
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As Gasly tried the overcut to pit and emerge in front, Kvyat’s race was almost ruined by a bold attempt on Stroll at Turn 3, bringing back shades of the old ‘torpedo’.
“It was a late move, I was coming very fast. I tried, locked the inside front wheel, and it was very frustrating,” Kvyat, who would run wide into the gravel, explained.
“I thought what if the race is lost, but then they told me I still have a bit of a gap behind. It was hard to stay cool, but then I pushed like an animal the next few laps and I was on his back again in eight or nine laps.”
Making his first F1 appearance since the 2017 United States Grand Prix, the 24-year-old also admits the weekend took some readjusting to.
“We did all of the race simulations in Barcelona, but it’s not the same when you have the whole weekend approach,” Kvyat said.
“I kind of forgot a bit how it is. Qualifying also feels a bit different with traffic management, so going to Bahrain, it’s a nice baggage of experience for me.