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Tost insists Kvyat retention ‘a Red Bull decision’

Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost has stated it was a collective 'Red Bull decision' to sign Daniil Kvyat for the 2017 season rather than his choice alone, contrary to what Helmut Marko had earlier stated.

Upon the initial announcement the Italian squad would retain Kvyat for next season which ended speculation the Russian was set to exit the Red Bull fold, the group's motorsport advisor Marko says the ultimate decision came down to Tost but the team boss has reiterated it was a collective decision between all parties.

"It was a Red Bull decision. That's it," Tost said on Formula1.com. "Daniil deserves the drive next year, as he showed great performance in Singapore and was pretty competitive in Malaysia and Japan - with a car that has an engine on which development has stopped and which is short of 60 to 70 horsepower.

"Toro Rosso always goes for the most skilled. Red Bull would never take on a second-class driver for money reasons. Talent is paramount."

Kvyat made his F1 debut with Toro Rosso in 2014 before being promoted to Red Bull Racing 'A team' in 2015, only to be sidestepped back to the sister outfit five rounds in the 2016 season to be replaced by Max Verstappen.

Raising speculation about his future within the set-up after the end of 2016, the Russian had been tipped to lose his drive to Red Bull junior and GP2 title contender Pierre Gasly but Toro Rosso has now ended rumours by confirming Kvyat will stay alongside Carlos Sainz.

Gasly's 2017 options remain unclear with his route to F1 with Red Bull now blocked and if the French driver wins the GP2 Series title next month in Abu Dhabi he would become ineligible to stay competing in the F1 feeder series. 

Zdroj: crash.net