Formula 1: Daniil Kvyat to drive for Toro Rosso in 2019

Daniil Kvyat is set to return to Scuderia Toro Rosso in the 2019 Formula 1 season even after they released him before the conclusion of the 2017 season.

The “Torpedo” is back.

Daniil Kvyat was released by Scuderia Toro Rosso before the 2017 Formula 1 season reached its conclusion in favor of Pierre Gasly, who drove in five of the 20-race season’s final six races and only missed one race because he had to be in Suzuka, Japan as a result of his Super Japanese Formula Championship commitment.

However, with Daniel Ricciardo set to replace Carlos Sainz Jr. at Renault Sport in the 2019 season, the door opened for Gasly to be promoted from the Red Bull Racing junior team to Red Bull Racing. That is exactly what is set to happen.

As a result, the door opened for Kvyat to return to Toro Rosso, and that is also exactly what is set to happen. This move, which was confirmed ahead of his home race, the Russian Grand Prix, had been speculated in recent days and weeks.

Here is what Kvyat had to say about the opportunity to return to the Faenza-based team in the 2019 season, according to Sky Sports.

"“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. I never gave up hope of racing again, I am still young and I have kept in good shape to always be prepared in case another opportunity presented itself. I will give my best to deliver what the team expects from me and I can’t wait for everything to start again.”"

Here is what Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost had to say about Kvyat returning to the team in the 2019 season, according to Sky Sports.

"“I believe he deserves another chance in Formula 1. Daniil is a high skilled driver with fantastic natural speed, which he has proven several times in his career.”"

Kvyat has competed in 72 races over the course of his Formula 1 career, which began in 2014 when he drove for Toro Rosso. He competed in 51 of those 72 races as a Toro Rosso driver and the other 21 as a Red Bull Racing driver. He competed for Toro Rosso in the 2014 season and much of the 2016 and 2017 seasons, and he competed for Red Bull Racing in the 2015 season and in some of the 2016 season.

Kvyat has recorded two podium finishes, six top five finishes and 27 top 10 finishes over the course of his Formula 1 career. His career-high finish is a second place finish, which he recorded in the 2015 Hungarian Grand Prix. As a Toro Rosso driver, he has recorded 11 top 10 finishes, of which six were ninth place finishes and the other five were 10th place finishes.