Horner hails ‘sensational’ Kvyat

Editor

Daniil Kvyat’s pace this season has caught the eye of Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who believes it is “hugely impressive.”

Kvyat entered Formula 1 at the start of this season with Red Bull’s junior team, Toro Rosso.

Despite coming into the sport from GP3, he has shown both pace and ability, taking the fight to his more experienced team-mate Jean-Eric Vergne.

And his performances have led to praise from Red Bull boss Horner.

The Brit told Autosport: “He has been sensational and has been the rookie of the season so far.

“His raw pace and speed, considering the jump he has made from GP3, is hugely impressive.

“He had little pre-season testing and Jean-Eric [Vergne] is a very quick driver, so the benchmark he’s up against is good as well.

“And we have got some great talent coming on beneath that with Carlos Sainz Jr, Pierre Gasly and Alex Lynn, so there is some very positive talent on the junior programme.”

Horner added that Red Bull’s junior programme deserves a great deal of criticism given that it produced Red Bull’s current drivers Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo.

Horner added: “Both of our race drivers have come through the junior team and they are both there on merit.

“The junior programme can be perceived as tough at times, but F1 is not a soft business and you get found out in the end.

“The great thing about the Red Bull programme is that if the guys are seriously talented, they find their way and they are supported.”