The Formula 1 transfer market in the 2022 season has been full of rumors and news about the names that could land in the next Grand Circus campaign, and not only were young drivers waiting for their moment or stars changing teams, without that some who seemed to have said goodbye to the highest category of motorsport have also sounded.
The clearest examples were at Alpine and Haas, as both Antonio Giovinazzi and Nico Hülkenberg were part of the list of possible replacements for Fernando Alonso and Mick Schumacher, but ultimately they will not be the starters of those respective teams for 2023.
However, this shows that teams sometimes want to use experienced drivers rather than rookies, as will happen in AlphaTauri with Nyck de Vries , who despite only having done one test at the Grand Circus [where he scored points with Williams at Monza], At 27, he is the Formula E world champion and took the Formula 2 championship in 2019.
Precisely a former member of that Faenza team, Daniil Kvyat, still keeps hopes alive for a return to Formula 1 after leaving the Red Bull program after a 2020 year in which Pierre Gasly passed over him. However, the Russian driver is aware that this opportunity is very remote and prefers to focus on other four-wheel categories.
“Never say never,” he told Motorsport.com. “Right now, let’s just say it wouldn’t be ideal, but hopefully one day I can talk about it again. Now in NASCAR, I’m welcome, I haven’t had any problems and we plan to do more races.”
“I’m happy, I’ve always wanted to prove myself in NASCAR, and in a way, it’s a dream come true,” explained the former AlphaTauri team member. “Getting to the top here might take a while, but I’m patient, and the runs can be really long if you do it right, I’m curious to see how far I can go.”
“Of course, Formula 1 always has a special place in my heart, and who knows, hopefully we can come back, I’m still young. As some people show, you can come back after a little break and still do well,” said the Russian.
Kvyat stepped on the podium three times in the highest category of motorsports during his stay, and although he sees his future may not be where he came to open the champagne, he looks at all the options.
“I am open to starting negotiations and seeing what can come out in 2023 [in the United States], there are some options, and if I am like this, there are no obstacles if they ask me. People have my number, they know how to find me,” he said.
“Now I’m wearing that [business] suit, I can change into a racing suit and be ready to go,” the Russian said. “Formula 1 is the easiest thing for me, getting into one of those single-seaters is easier than a NASCAR car, where with four free practice laps you already have to compete against the rest.”
The former Toro Rosso, Red Bull and AlphaTauri player has a good ally in the Grand Circus paddock, his agent Nicolas Todt , who also deals with Charles Leclerc: “I value him very much.”
“I like working with him, although it’s not easy at all, it’s not like he can snap his fingers and make things happen. It’s a lot of details and having him around helps,” Kvyat revealed. “I also have my own contacts, I have made very good personal relationships with people, but, as I said, timing is crucial.”
“Sometimes a lot of things on paper point to something, but the reality is that maybe they are a little different,” said the 28-year-old driver who is now trying his luck beyond Formula 1.
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