Daniil Kvyat- A Memorable Drive at the 2019 Spanish GP

Two back-to-back DNFs, as seen at China and Baku, what worse, one wondered, was in store for a familiar Toro Rosso driver at Spain? But let’s focus on what matters the most. Here’s a question to all of those who have hitherto labeled Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat a reckless driver.

Did anyone expect the Russian to drive such a commendable race at Spain as seen on May 12, 2019?

Life, it can be said, hasn’t always been too kind for the returning F1 driver. Has it?

To that end, he’s himself to be blamed for causing a collision with another driver on the grid, in some botched up attempt to make a move on many an occasion. In fact, where the 2016 race in Russia serves an example, then perhaps Kvyat- during that hurried showdown with Vettel- only highlights the fact that he’s not a master of possessing the thing called ‘fine sense of judgment’ on the grid.

Correct?

And as seen in the recent past, we’ve got the Chinese Grand Prix as an example. Remember Lap 41, Kvyat retiring?

But that told, is Daniil Kvyat only worth remembering for the failed overtake attempts? What does the 2019 Spanish GP prove about the 25-year-old driver?

Daniil Kvyat drove what be only be called a truly awesome race at Spain. Whether you are an admirer or a scathing critic, that there was more to the former Red Bull driver was evident in the firm control and great pace he demonstrated throughout the 66-lap contest.

For starters, here was a man who scored the most points for his team, in fact, the only for Scuderia Toro Rosso finishing ahead of teammate Alex Albon, eleventh on the grid.

Secondly, that Kvyat passed someone like the Iceman Kimi Raikkonen meant that there was more to the talented Russian than the sum of all the criticisms he’s copped up, thus far.

At no stage in the race did he seem vulnerable from the attacks of the cars behind him, most noticeably, the Renaults and McLarens. And at no stage during the race did he seem incapable of going past the Haas cars. Albeit, one notes that better corner speed was never to be his ally.

But in scoring a fine P9, despite having failed to make it into the top ten on Saturday proves that the driver has got an awful lot to offer a team that’s keen to build a core having found a great talent in Alex Albon.

So it must be noted that there’s perhaps more to Kvyat than is often thought and maybe, as seen up until now, the spurts of brilliances- few that they may be- are no one but his own fault. May he make it count in the races to come.