This is how Kvyat lost his F1 seat at Red Bull Racing to Verstappen

It was a much-discussed event in the Formula 1 season in which Max Verstappen took his first victory. Verstappen swapped with Daniil Kvyat. Kvyat drove in the Red Bull, and Verstappen in the Toro Rosso, but after just four races in 2016, the two drivers swapped seats. Verstappen immediately won the first race in the Russian's car.

Daniil Kvyat in Formula 1

Kvyat's career in Formula 1 began in 2013 when the driver was announced as a 2014 driver with Toro Rosso. Kvyat already completed two Friday practice sessions in 2013. In 2014, he started racing for Toro Rosso alongside teammate Jean-Eric Vergne. In doing so, he filled the seat of Daniel Ricciardo, who went to Red Bull Racing.

In the first race Kvyat drove, he scored two points, which was good for a new record to his name. He became the youngest driver to ever score a point in Formula 1. He scored eight World Championship points in 2014, which was good enough to replace Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull the following season.

In 2015, the Russian finished seventh in the world championship with 95 points, so he was also allowed to start the following season (2016) on behalf of Red Bull Racing. All did not go so easily. He only made it onto the podium at the Chinese Grand Prix. He had to deal with an up-and-coming talent from the Netherlands.

Verstappen at Toro Rosso

On 13 August 2014, it was announced that Verstappen would drive for Toro Rosso the following season. He became a teammate of Carlos Sainz. Verstappen made his Formula 1 debut in March 2015. He was ninth but eventually suffered an engine problem.

The Dutchman impressed in his first season in Formula 1. He received as many as three awards at the end of that season. Rookie of the year, FIA action of the year and FIA personality of the year. Verstappen also appeared at the start on behalf of Toro Rosso in Formula 1 in 2016, not knowing that things would soon change...

Why Kvyat had to make way for Verstappen

Kvyat was swapped out of Red Bull Racing's car after four races in the 2016 season. The decision was taken based on several incidents during the Russian Grand Prix. Among other things, the Russian hit Ferrari's Vettel, leading to criticism from Ferrari about Kvyat's driving. The Russian was replaced by Verstappen.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was happy to welcome Verstappen. "Max has proved to be an excellent young talent. His performance at Toro Rosso has been impressive. We are therefore pleased that we can now offer him the opportunity at Red Bull," the Red Bull team boss said in 2016. Horner continued, "We are in the unique position that all four drivers at Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso have long-term contracts, so we have the luxury of moving them between the two teams."

Franz Tost worked with Kvyat instead of Verstappen after the switch, which was not always easy for him. "Changing drivers in the middle of the season is always a problem for a team," Tost told Motorsport.com. "The driver is an element of motivation for all the members of the team. Max is a special driver, and losing someone like him during the season has not been easy," he revealed in 2016.

This is how Kvyat and Verstappen fared after the switch

In his first race in the Red Bull car, Verstappen won the Spanish Grand Prix, immediately putting him on the record of 'youngest driver with a Formula 1 victory'. The Dutchman's victory lap is now well known. In 2021, 2022, and 2023, he became Formula 1 world champion and has over 50 victories.

Kvyat drove for Red Bull Racing's sister team Toro Rosso in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020, which became AlphaTauri in 2020. In his last two years, the Russian was invariably in the middle of the field, scoring 37 points in 2019 and 32 in 2020. This was good for a 13th place in 2019 and 14th in 2020.

Kvyat recently said in an exclusive interview with GPblog that he is still open to Formula 1. The Russian currently drives in the World Endurance Championship(WEC). "It's something from the past, but should the opportunity arise, then why not? You can't turn it down," Kvyat told reporters.

Daniil Kvyat and Kelly Piquet

Kvyat is the ex of Kelly Piquet, who is currently in a relationship with none other than Verstappen. In July 2019, Kvyat and Piquet had a baby daughter, Penelope. It was not long before Kvyat and Piquet were no longer together after that. In January 2020, Piquet and Verstappen started dating. The two are in a relationship, and Penelope can often be found in the Dutchman's sim streams.