Formula 1: Daniil Kvyat in Red Bull mix despite previous Helmut Marko claim

Daniil Kvyat is still in the mix to drive for Red Bull Racing in the 2020 Formula 1 season despite a previous claim by team manager Helmut Marko.

Red Bull Racing team manager stated roughly one month ago that Daniil Kvyat, who returned to Scuderia Toro Rosso, effectively the Red Bull Racing junior team, ahead of the 2019 Formula 1 season, would be back with the team in the 2020 season.

Marko stated that the matter was confirmed internally despite the fact that there had not been and still has not been public confirmation.

He went on to say that the decision regarding who would be in the second seat at Red Bull Racing alongside Max Verstappen was between Pierre Gasly and Alexander Albon.

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Gasly opened up the 2019 season at Red Bull Racing, but 12 races into the 21-race season, he was replaced by the rookie Albon and demoted back to Toro Rosso. Albon has driven for the team ever since and is set to do so in the final two races of the season as well.

Now, however, Marko has clarified that what he meant was the team are already familiar with Kvyat’s qualities considering the fact that he drove for both Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso from the 2014 season through the 2017 season.

In other words, the 25-year-old Russian is still in contention to land alongside Verstappen at the Milton Keynes-based team next year, just like Albon and Gasly.

Here is what Marko had to say, according to GPToday.

"“What I meant was that we already know everything about Kvyat’s qualities. What we were not sure about what the ability of Albon. That’s what I meant.”"

He went on to confirm that all three drivers are under consideration.

"“Yes, all of them.”"

Team principal Christian Horner stated from the start that all three drivers were under consideration, but Marko’s statement seemed to trump Horner’s at the time.

Many fans believed that it would be Kvyat, not Albon, to replace Gasly during the 2019 season if the 23-year-old Frenchman were to be demoted. Through the first 12 races of the season, Kvyat had recorded a third place finish and scored 27 points. Albon’s top finish was sixth place, and he had scored only 16 points.

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Will Alexander Albon retain his ride alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing for the 2020 Formula 1 season, will Daniil Kvyat drive for the team for the first time since 2016, or will Pierre Gasly get another shot after struggling throughout the first 12 races of the 2019 season? All three are in contention, not just Albon and Gasly like Helmut Marko initially stated.

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