Daniil Kvyat has revealed how his first test with Ferrari inspired him to return to Formula 1 "at any cost".
Despite only being 26, the Russian has had one of the most remarkable careers in F1 history in terms of experiences, from stepping in at Toro Rosso in 2014 to replacing Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull the following year.
However, in 2016, a bad home race at Sochi triggered a downward spiral, beginning with being replaced by Max Verstappen from the Spanish Grand Prix to eventually leaving the Red Bull stable altogether after his final Toro Rosso appearance in Austin 2017.
“I felt I had a lot of unfinished business in Formula 1,” he reflected on F1's Beyond The Grid podcast.
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“There was talks in different areas (formulas), but I always wanted [to drive] in Formula 1. I was considering stopping completely if I didn’t get a Formula 1 deal again.”
Without a race seat, Kvyat received the chance to be a development driver for Ferrari in 2018 and it was his only outing behind the wheel of their F1 car which proved a turning point for him psychologically.
“I tested that year’s car once in Fiorano, and that was very emotional for me, because, first of all, it’s a Ferrari and Fiorano, it was really cool.
“I [hadn’t] driven anything for six months or something. I was enjoying it so much, and that day I understood I want to come back at any cost to Formula 1: ‘This is what I want to do, what I’m best at."
The three-time podium scorer also spoke highly of the opportunity to work with Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen that year, revealing another moment which helped him refind his self-confidence.
“It was great also to watch them work – two world champions – very experienced guys,” he commented.
“With Sebastian, once I think I was in Canada and my job was to look at onboard videos and try to, you know, pinpoint what was different.
“And I said, ‘look you can take more chicane, more kerb on the chicane’, and he agreed and he tried it the next day, and it was better…”
Kvyat of course would leave Ferrari after just a single year to return to F1 last year for a third stint at Toro Rosso in 2019, notably finishing third in the German GP classic.
