Kvyat Confirmed At Toro Rosso For 2019

TORO ROSSO CONFIRMS DANIIL KVYAT FOR 2019

    Daniil Kvyat will return to Formula 1 in 2019 after taking a year away from the championship.

    The Russian racer will replace Pierre Gasly at Toro Rosso as the Frenchman moves up to the Red Bull senior team.

    It will be Kvyat’s third spell at Toro Rosso, having made his debut for the team in 2014 before moving up to Red Bull. He returned to the junior squad in early 2016 and spent a difficult two years with the team before being demoted again at the end of last year.

    Although he was signed as Ferrari’s development driver for 2018, he has been feed up to race with his former team once again next season.

    “I would like to thank Red Bull and Toro Rosso for giving me this opportunity to race in Formula 1 again and I am particularly pleased to be returning to a team I know very well,” Kvyat said.

    “Toro Rosso has always made me feel at home and I’m sure it will be the same next season.

    I would also like to thank Ferrari for trusting my driving skills which allowed me to stay connected to F1 as their development driver. Even if my duties were primarily simulator based I’ve learned a lot and I now feel stronger and better prepared than when I left Toro Rosso.

    I never gave up the hope of racing again. I am still young and I have kept in good shape to always be prepared in case another opportunity presented itself. I will give my best to deliver what the team expects from me and I can’t wait for everything to start again.”

    Kvyat enjoyed a strong start to his F1 career, picking up points in his first two races and finishing 15th in the overall championship in 2014.

    At Red Bull, he picked up two podium finishes, including a second place in Hungary, but struggled to continue his strong results after returning to Toro Rosso.

    Team boss Franz Tost believes the Russian has matured in his time away from the race seat and will be ready to replace Gasly.

    “I believe [Kvyat] deserves another chance in Formula 1,” he said. “Daniil is a high skilled driver with fantastic natural speed, which he has prven several times in his career.

    There were some difficult situations he had to face in the past, but I’m convinced that having had the time to mature as a person away from the races will help him show his undeniable capabilities on track. We’ll push very hard to prove him with a good package, and I feel the best is yet to come from 
his side.

    That’s why we are happy to welcome him back to our team, to start a successful season together.”

     Toro Rosso is yet to confirm who will race alongside Kvyat at the team, with Esteban Ocon on the shortlist for the seat.

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Hartley/Gasly To Race For Toro Rosso In Mexico

BRENDON HARTLEY AND PIERRE GASLY CONFIRMED AT TORO ROSSO FOR MEXICAN GP

    Brendon Hartley will continue his Formula 1 career with a second outing with Toro Rosso.

    Hartley was called in to make his F1 debut last weekend at the United States Grand Prix as Pierre Gasly – who had only made his F1 debut the weekend before in Japan – was set to race in the Super Formula season finale.

    Toro Rosso ran an entirely different line-up to its Japanese GP duo, with Carlos Sainz Jnr moving to Renault. Daniil Kvyat, who had only just lost his seat to Gasly, was drafted in to race Sainz’s car.

    With Hartley continuing for a second race and Gasly back from Japan, it’s another demotion for Kvyat.

    Toro Rosso has just recently confirmed that Daniil Kvyat will not be returning to Toro Rosso for Brazil or Abu Dhabi as well and there is no word on where the Russian will be headed for 2018. 

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Brendon Hartley To Toro Rosso For US Grand Prix

BRENDON HARTLEY TO RACE FOR TORO ROSSO AT US GP

    Brendon Hartley will replace Pierre Gasly at Toro Rosso for the United States Grand Prix.

    Gasly, who joined the team’s line up in Japan, will miss the Austin race to compete in the final round of the Super Formula. The Frenchman is currently just half a point behind championship leader Hiroaki Ishiura with two races remaining.

    Having tested with the team in 2010, WEC champion Hartley will step in for the race. He will race alongside Daniil Kvyat, who rejoins Toro Rosso after Carlos Sainz switched to Renault, making it an entirely different line up to the one the team fielded in Japan.

    “This opportunity came as somewhat of a surprise, but I never did give up on my ambition and childhood dream to reach F1,” he said.

“I have grown and learnt so much since the days when I was the Red Bull and Toro Rosso reserve driver, and the tough years I went through made me stronger and even more determined.

    I want to say a huge thanks to Red Bull for making this a reality, and to Porsche for allowing me to do this alongside the World Endurance Championship. COTA is a track I really enjoy and one I have raced at recently. I’m trying not to put too many expectations on my F1 debut, but I feel ready for it.”

    In the early stages of his career, Hartley claimed the Formula Renault 2.0 title and finished third in the 2007 British Formula 3 championship.

    He joined the F1 world in 2008 as a test driver for Toro Rosso, becoming a reserve driver for the Italian squad and sister team Red Bull in 2009. In 2012, he moved to Mercedes as a test driver, before turning his attention to sports cars.

    Hartley, as part of the Porsche #17 squad, took the WEC title in 2015, finishing second in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He and #2 car team-mates Timo Bernhard and Earl Bamber are currently top of the 2017 drivers’ championship.

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Sainz To Renault At US Grand Prix

SAINZ JOINS RENAULT FOR US GRAND PRIX & REST OF 2017 SEASON

    Carlos Sainz will race with Renault from the United States Grand Prix onwards, replacing Jolyon Palmer at the manufacturer team.

    Sainz was set to move to Renault at the start of next season as part of the deal to allow Toro Rosso to break with its engine manufacturer early. But the Spaniard has been called up early and will spend the remaining four races of the 2017 season at Renault.

    “I really want to thank all my engineers and mechanics for their support and tremendous work throughout these years,” said Sainz, who has raced for Toro Rosso since joining F1 in 2015.

    "Toro Rosso is made up of a fantastic group of people and I wish them only the best for the future.

    Competing in these last four races with Renault gives me a good opportunity to get to know the team and the car earlier than expected. I am looking forward to start working with them.”

    It means Palmer, who joined Renault in 2016 after taking the GP2 title in 2014, is without a seat for the remainder of the season. He is currently assessing his options for next year, and has been linked by some to a possible move to Williams.

    “It’s been an extremely challenging season and I’ve been through a lot in the last three years, but it’s been a tremendous journey overall with the team,” Palmer said.

    "I can look back proudly at the performance in the second half of last season, my first point in Malaysia and of course a career high of sixth place in Singapore this year.”

    The switch is good news for Daniil Kvyat, who returns to Toro Rosso after being replaced by Pierre Gasly for the Japanese Grand Prix.

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F1 Race Debut For Gasly

F1 RACE DEBUT FOR PIERRE GASLY

    Pierre Gasly will make his Formula 1 debut at the Malaysian Grand Prix, replacing Daniil Kvyat at Toro Rosso of the next two race weekends.

    Gasly joined the Red Bull junior programme in 2014, when he raced with Arden in the Formula Renault 3.5 series before graduating to GP2 at the end of the year.

    The 21-year-old finished eighth in his eighth in his first full season in GP2. In 2016, he switched to Prema Powerteam for his second season, when he took four race wins and nine podiums to take the title.

    Alongside his years in GP2, Gasly worked as a Red Bull test driver.

    After taking the title, Gasly moved to the Japanese Super Formula, where he is currently second in the championship.

    “Scuderia Toro Rosso was established by Red Bull to bring youngsters from its Junior Programme into Formula 1 and that’s what we are doing by giving Pierre this chance,” said team boss Franz Tost.

    “He is the next in line at Red Bull for this opportunity and he has shown that he deserves it, having taken the 2016 GP2 title and this year being very competitive in this Super Formula series in Japan. He really has a valid chance of winning the title, as he is only half a point behind the leader.

    The driver switch gives us an opportunity to make a more informed decision regarding our 2018 driver choices."

    Kvyat will remain part of the “Red Bull family” but it hasn’t been confirmed if or when the Russian will be back in the cockpit.

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Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO F1 TEAM

Daniil Kvyat - “The Singapore Grand Prix is a very enjoyable event because it takes place in the city centre of a very cool city and there's a mega atmosphere! Racing at night makes it all even more special and I'd say it's one of the most unique weekends of the year.

    It's quite hot and humid there, which means it's a challenging race from a physical point of view. The good news is that I always arrive there very well prepared thanks to all the work my physio and I put in throughout the whole year.

    Even if it's difficult, I sometimes try and do some shopping as there are many shopping centres in the city. It's not easy as we stay on European time in Singapore, so when we finish at the track it's early morning all the shops are already closed! An option is to wake up earlier and do it before going to the circuit, but I like sleeping and that's actually what I should do until ‘lunch time’.

    Last year I finished in the points (P9) after a very good qualifying session on Saturday (P7) so I hope we can be competitive also this year. In addition, everything can happen in Singapore, the walls are very close and the physical preparation can make a big difference. I've trained very hard to be able to stay focused on the driving without worrying about anything else… we need to take any chance that comes our way and bring home points.

    Even if you sleep the usual amount of hours, having to wake up at lunch time gives me the feeling I'm allowed to sleep much more than during any other race weekend but still fit many things in during the day… Maybe also the fact of going to bed very late makes me feel in a way on holiday but, believe me, we are not!”

Carlos Sainz - “I'd say Singapore is probably the toughest race on the calendar, not only because of the demands of the circuit itself, but also because of the physical stresses regarding the driver. The physical stress of driving at more than 50 or 60 degrees inside the cockpit due to the heat and humidity is enormous. The air doesn't flow, as the city skyscrapers don't allow it and you really feel the hot air inside the car!

    The track itself is really long, very tight and extremely demanding. There's no time to rest during the lap and you have to be 100% focused at all times, as the walls are all very close.

    We stay on European time while in Singapore, which can sometimes be a bit weird: We wake up at around 2 PM every day and leave the track at 3 AM, which is strange but also makes it more special. As we come from Europe I don't usually struggle with this unusual timetable. I sometimes find it more difficult to adapt to the Malaysian or Japanese time zones for example.

    Last year I performed one of my best qualifying sessions of the season, something which is very important to do in Singapore as it's difficult to overtake during the race. Unfortunately, the good qualifying didn't count for much in the end, as I had a frustrating start when I got hit as the lights went out… It was a very tough moment, as I was expecting to fight for points. We probably lost a chance of scoring a strong result! Let's see if we can do it this year…”

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Italian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO F1 TEAM

Daniil Kvyat - "I grew up in Italy and it's a country I know well; it's like a second home for me. I lived in Rome for some time when I was younger and I'm fluent in Italian, so I always enjoy going back!

    This race has been on the F1 calendar for many years and it's a legendary circuit: it has very long straights, which means we drive at very high speeds, and it's always an interesting race. The only thing I don't like is the fact that the Parabolica doesn't have a gravel trap any more… It's now all asphalt, so it's not such of a challenge and a compromise if you go off track; in the past it could end up meaning that your race was over!

    I have very good memories from Monza, as I won a few times while racing in junior categories, so it's always special to go back there every year. Having said that, I also have a negative memory from 2014, when my brake disk broke at Turn 1 compromising my race to finish in P11: Starting from the last position on the grid I was able to make my way up, but not enough to score points… A big shame, as we were doing a very good race! I hope to create more good memories this year!”

Carlos Sainz - "The Italian GP weekend is a bit of a frustrating one, because you want to spend the whole weekend eating pizza and pasta but you can't as we're there to race! A part from this, I have to say it's an amazing weekend and one of the things I enjoy the most is the Italian fans and their passion. I seem to have many supporters there – I even have an Italian fan club to whom I send my regards to from here! – and it's great to feel so much support!

    Monza is a circuit that I really like – I wouldn't say it's my absolute favourite, but it's up there in my top 5… It's the temple of speed after all! I haven't been able to score a good result there yet during my F1 career, but I'm confident it will happen one day…sooner or later!

    The entrance to the Paddock is special and different to other circuits, as it's absolutely full of passionate fans who wait for the drivers to arrive each morning. This means that before entering the Paddock we stop to sign autographs for 5 or 10 minutes, which gives me a good boost to start the day!

    The Italian GP weekend always coincides with my birthday – this time it will be on the Friday… It's a good way to spend this special day, doing what I love to do and celebrating it with the team, which is like a second family as we spend so much time together!”

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Belgian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO F1 TEAM

Daniil Kvyat - “Spa-Francorchamps is a legendary track and one I really look forward to racing at every year! It's definitely one of my favourites and I think every driver likes it a lot… It's just impossible not to! It's a great circuit with big history. The first thing that comes to mind when you think of this track is the legendary corner of Eau Rouge but I have to say that, in a way, every single corner there is special and unique.

    It's also the longest circuit on the F1 calendar and a very flowing one, which makes it a very enjoyable experience. This is the only circuit where we do the track walk on a scooter, because it's too long to walk a lap of it! Another interesting thing about this circuit is that it's so big that it can be raining in one part but dry at another, so it can make racing very interesting and you need to be ready for everything! It's also interesting and fun to race there because of the slipstream – it's easy to find a tow at some point during the lap and this can become very useful at times, especially during qualifying.”

Carlos Sainz - “I really like racing in Spa because it's a track that has a bit of everything. It has very long straights where good overtaking can take place, but also very nice corners – Sector 2 in particular is very nice and flowing. It's tough to find a compromise regarding the balance of the car and the set-up for the long straights and Sector 2, but I enjoy the challenge.

    There's a corner there that's maybe not as famous as some of the others, but that I like a lot and it's one of the toughest. When you say Spa, everyone always thinks of Eau Rouge, but actually one of the most difficult corners in the world is Pouhon – we drive there at around 260km/h, in seventh gear, and it's a turn to always keep in mind!

    Spa is one of my favourite tracks but, strangely enough, I've never finished an F1 race there…! I think the race in 2016 was even more frustrating than the one in 2015 because I had done one of my best first laps of my life – I started from P15 and I was P7 after lap 1 – but I suddenly got a puncture in the middle of the straight due to carbon fibre pieces… So unlucky! I remember being so motivated and suddenly all the highs of that first lap disappeared… I was quite annoyed. Third time lucky, they say…

    I remember that last year it was very warm during the race weekend, warmer than in Spain, so it was quite a special weekend, difficult to sleep at night because of the heat! We were in Belgium but it suddenly felt that we were somewhere in Spain, enjoying the summer!

    On the way to the track we drive past many bars and restaurants where you always see people enjoying some moules, waffles or fried chips… It makes you want to join them, but during the race weekend I can't ever do that… Maybe this year I can try and get away with it and have a cheat meal there!”

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Hungarian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO F1 TEAM

Carlos Sainz - “I remember there's a waterpark very close to the circuit – you can see it from the track – but I've never actually been. If I say the truth, it's not something that attracts me to visit, but it's a curious thing to see while driving!

    I'd say last year's qualifying in Hungary was one of my highlights of the season. I remember being P15 in FP3 and suddenly, out of nowhere, putting one of the best laps of my life together in quali, with the intermediate tyres, to end up P4 in Q2 and making it into Q3 – something nobody was expecting! I then went for it on slick tyres on a damp track and ended up P6! I enjoyed it a lot!

    Budapest is one of my favourite cities in the world – it has many historic attractions, good restaurants, the fans are also incredible there: I have a picture on Instagram where you see all the fans around me and it's difficult to find me in the photo! This makes it a special weekend and I feel very loved in Hungary, I have a lot of fans there, which is nice!

    The track is one I like, especially in qualifying – it's quite an intense lap! The race itself, if it doesn't rain, isn't so special because it's quite difficult to overtake there; a bit like Monaco.”

Daniil Kvyat - “In Hungary I scored the first ever podium of my F1 career – I have very cool memories from that race weekend and it's always good to go back there.

    The track is a very interesting and challenging one. It's very narrow; I describe it like a 'Monaco without walls'. You have to get everything right and hopefully we will have a clean race there. It's very difficult to overtake in Hungary, so it's important to have a good qualifying.

    The fans are very passionate there, it's great to see. The signing sessions are always fully-packed with people cheering us on and this is something very special to see. It's one of the highlights of the weekend, definitely!

    It's usually quite hot there, so we need to drink a lot of water throughout the weekend and it's something my physio reminds me about all the time at races like this one! Budapest is a very nice city. I've been there many times – there's a lot to see, it's good fun and one I definitely recommend to family and friends to visit.”

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British GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO F1 TEAM

Daniil Kvyat - “I like Silverstone because there are very fast, legendary corners which make this track absolutely unique – it's a track with a lot of history… It's so cool! Every time I've raced in Silverstone I've ended up in the points and done some very good races there. I have to say I really like the track but this doesn't guarantee you points: every year it all starts from zero but hopefully I can carry on with the positive tendency also this year…we would really need it!

    I've lived in the UK for two years and I like it. It's a particular country and you have to get used to it, but once you're settled in, it's all very easy going and easy to understand. You can have fun there, go to the pub or enjoy some fish and chips every now and then!

    The UK has an enormous passion for motorsport because the history starts there. There are always plenty of fans during the race weekend, probably also because there are many English teams and most of them are based close to Silverstone.

    You always have to have one eye on the weather when racing in Silverstone. But I have to say I enjoy the British weather, especially in the summer – you can sleep with an open window, feel the breeze, wake-up with a bit of nice, fresh air… I like it!”

Carlos Sainz - “Silverstone is one of my favourite tracks because I think it's simply a 'driver's track' – it's so fast! The part I like the most is Sector 2 because it's the quickest part of the track and it makes it probably one of the most exciting sectors of the season, with Maggotts, Becketts, Stowe… I've always enjoyed my qualifyings at this track and I can assure you I always have a smile on my face when I drive there!

    It seems to be all about eight for me at Silverstone! In Formula 1, I've always qualified eight and finished the race eight! It's not a bad position and it's fair to say we've done a very good job so far every year at this track. I hope this continues to be the case this year…or even better…why not!

    I always welcome the rain and if there's a place where you can never be sure about the weather, that's Silverstone - last year was a good example! What also amazes me is the fact that the fans, even if it rains and thunders, they never leave the track until the end of the day and this makes it special. That's what I call real passion for motorsport!

    When I have some free time I like to spend it in London and become a 'normal Londoner! It's a really cool city and I live quite close to Hide Park, where I always do my running or boxing training. I also love having such a big choice of restaurants and go for a meal with friends. My favourite 'cheat meal' is a hamburger and chips, and London have some pretty good places for this!

    At Silverstone is where I tested a Formula 1 car for the first time back in 2013, and it's a day I will never forget – it was one of the most special days of my life! I remember driving the Toro Rosso and being fast straight away, enjoying every second!”

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Austrian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO F1 TEAM

Daniil Kvyat - “Statistics don't interest me that much, it's not something I look into. For example, I've never scored any points in Austria, but this isn't something that makes me be obsessed every time this race weekend arrives. It doesn't change my approach to racing. I like this track and I know I can be fast – this is what really matters to me.

    Austria is an interesting track, with corners I enjoy. It's quite a short layout, but all the turns are very challenging and quite unique. The final sector is my favourite part, as it has many high-speed corners which are very cool.

    It's good to have so many race weekends throughout the year, and it's even better when they're one after the other – it's cool to sometimes get a lot of good racing together! It's also challenging for the teams and drivers to maintain high concentration and a good training level during weeks like these.

    As this track is Red Bull's home, we have a lot of support and attention throughout the whole weekend, which is always nice. The atmosphere there is always great too; I enjoy racing here. The nature that surrounds this track also makes it special. The views you can see while racing are fantastic!”

Carlos Sainz - “I don't mind having back-to-back races when in Europe, because you still get to go back home for a few days in between races and get some training done, as well as seeing friends and family. When it's overseas, you always stay out or go directly to the next race, which means being away from home for two weeks.

    Racing at the Red Bull Ring, Red Bull’s home, changes my race weekend a bit because we have a few more events and things to do with Red Bull – a few more interviews, meeting guests, etc. but I don't mind it, it's good to race there!

    I think it's quite a particular track and I'd say it's one with the highest grip of the year. The new tarmac used for the first time last year gave us a lot of lap time and it's so smooth, it's like driving in the simulator. The views are also pretty amazing and it's a really cool venue to go racing. When racing in Austria last year, I was expecting the rain but it never came! Let's see what happens this year – I always enjoy a wet race!”

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Azerbaijan GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO F1 TEAM

Carlos Sainz - “You can't compare the Baku track layout to Monaco, even if it's a street circuit. It's not better or worse, just different. It's a very tough circuit to race at – I wouldn't say it's tougher than Monaco, but it gets quite close to it and any small mistake can be critical, so you have to stay concentrated and focused at all times.

    I enjoyed it there last year, I think it was quite a special race… It was just a shame I couldn't get to finish it, because I was enjoying it a lot out there. I remember having very good battles with the McLarens and Red Bulls and there was no rest. We don't get to enjoy the views while we drive at 300kph, but one of the things I like the most of Baku is the medieval castle that becomes part of the backdrop while racing there – some of the photos of this race are unique!

    One of the things I like the most is that our hotel is very close to the track. Literally just outside the Paddock entrance! This is perfect, as you get to sleep a bit more and feel much more comfortable as you have all your stuff only a couple of minutes away from the garage. If you want to, you can even go to the toilet in your room during the day!

    It was great to be able to meet Enrique Iglesias in Baku last year. He's a great guy and not only I enjoyed it – my sisters are great fans and they were extremely happy to be able to spend some time with him. I remember them being quite nervous and it made me laugh. They also got to go to his concert that weekend, and again this year in Bahrain! I listen to his music a lot in the Summer!”

Daniil Kvyat - “The track is unique, which makes it a very cool venue to go racing at. It's an impressive layout: the straight is unbelievably long and then suddenly you get to a very narrow section, where you're just kissing the walls. Only one car at a time can pass here, which makes racing a challenge. There's a 'Monaco' section but, at the same time, there's also a 'Monza' section, so it's a particular track and I like it.

    Last year we had a very good qualifying session in Baku – I was P7 and our pace was good. I even started the race P6. It's just a shame that we were not able to finish the race. Hopefully this year we will have a better ending to the weekend. Scoring points at a race where we haven't been able to do so yet is always a target – to score points for the first time at any track is always a good feeling and hopefully we can have a good race there this year and score some!

    Even if I wanted to, I didn't have much time to walk around Baku last year, but this year I'd really like to, as it seems to offer an interesting combination of old and modern architecture. One of the things I'd like to do is visit the Heydar Aliyev Centre. That building is really cool!”

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Canadian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO F1 TEAM

Daniil Kvyat - “I really like Montreal, it's one of the coolest cities we travel to. There's a lot of good streets to walk around and do some shopping, many good restaurants and bars. The atmosphere there is just fantastic!

    The track is also quite unique, as it has many chicanes and a few long straights. Trying to put a lap together there is never easy, and you need to build the pace throughout the weekend. It's a good place to go racing as there are many good opportunities for overtaking.

    I'm very into ice hockey and my trainer is a very big fan of this sport – he's an ex ice hockey player in fact! I was trying to learn but we never have time for this… I hope he reads this preview and finally takes me to play a match together! It's a contact sport which I think is very exciting to watch. In Russia it's very popular too – Russians and Canadians are big rivals in this sport!

    I remember trying syrup for the first time at one of the race weekends in Canada – the organisers gave all us drivers a box full of typically Canadian food and the syrup was good! If I have time to go shopping I will try and get some to take back home.

    One day I'd like to go and visit the Niagara Falls, they look like some amazing waterfalls! I always try and plan it around the Canadian GP week, but never really found the time. I will need to make sure I do one day!”

Carlos Sainz - “Montreal is actually one of my favourite cities. The hotel where we stay at is nice and there are many good restaurants to go to in the evenings – especially some great steakhouses! I really enjoy it there!

    The entrance to the Paddock in Canada is quite a particular one, as you have to walk on a floating bridge to cross the lake – I've always said that I would jump into that water if I won the race. But if it's as cold as it was last year, there's no way I would do that, not even if I won the world championship! So maybe I should change this – I will do anything else except jumping in the water, because I can't stand the cold!

    My favourite parts of the track are Turns 4 and 5, and also Turns 6 and 7. You drive between the walls and it's normally a section where there are a lot of leaves, which makes it even more of a challenge. You drive very fast through these turns and ride on the kerbs. I must also admit that the Wall of Champions is a challenge I always look forward to, even though I've crashed there in the past.”

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO F1 TEAM

Daniil Kvyat - "It feels like another home race for me, as I live in Monaco and during the race weekend I get to sleep in my own bed. It's also not far to walk to the Paddock in the mornings, which is quite cool! It's an unusual feeling, but it's something I really like to do. The track itself is unique. I really like it and it's all about your reflexes and reaction time – you just drive following your feelings and you have to find the right flow and rhythm in order to do well at this track.

    Yes, I do have quite a result's pattern in Monaco: DNF in 2014, P4 in 2015, DNF in 2016… So this year it looks like it should be a good one!  My Qualis have usually been quite decent in Monaco. Regarding the races, in 2015 I had a very good one, one of the best races of my career I'd say. This year I definitely want to put a good weekend together and see where we end up – a P4 would be good to continue with my result's pattern!"

Carlos Sainz - Monaco is a track that, since I went there for the first time back in 2013, I really got a good feeling racing there. I remember Fernando back then explaining a few secrets and tricks to me that I still have in my mind today. Racing with the walls so close is something you're always alert of – you can't drive around Monaco like you do at any other track! You just need to really build your confidence up and make sure that your confidence levels for qualifying are at 100% and that you haven't risked too much or had any big shocks before that session. It's a track that, when it comes to qualifying in particular, is a very tense moment– it's the toughest session of the year and where I need to be more determined. It's the easiest track to make a mistake, but it's a challenge I really enjoy."

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

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Spanish GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO F1 TEAM

Daniil Kvyat - “Racing in your team mate's country definitely means less attention on yourself, which can sometimes be quite okay as it lets you focus more on the driving. This is because, usually, most of the events are done by your team mate when it's his home country. It becomes his duty and we swap – I've done just that in Russia a couple of weeks ago! Now it's Carlos' turn.

    I know many Spanish words and speak this language quite well. Carlos and I have been team mates for many years, so it's been easy to practice it and keep learning new words… I already had a good baseline, as I studied it as a second language at school in Italy when I was younger. It's a language I like and it wasn't difficult to learn.

    We do a lot of testing in Barcelona, which means it's a track we all know very well – it has many different kind of corners, high and low speed, and every section has a different character, which is interesting. I'd say there are really no surprises for us here! My favourite corners are Turns 3 and 9, they're cool! Generally speaking, Spain is a nice circuit for me. Having collected plenty of data at the test, we will now need to get everything absolutely perfect in order to be in good shape this weekend. I've finished 10th in Spain for the last two years, but I hope it's higher than that this year!

    I also like the Spanish food. During a race weekend we can't really go mad, as we follow a strict diet, but I have to say that I really enjoy Spanish food and I always try to sneak in a few tapas, especially some jamon, at some point during the weekend.. If my trainer lets me.”

Carlos Sainz - “When racing at home, the feeling is so different to any other race – every time you drive out on track you know there's more people watching and cheering for you, and this makes the whole weekend very special. I've been to the Barcelona track since I was nine years old, and now I'm the one racing there, it's just amazing. Of course the whole weekend is also a bit busier than normal, but you just do everything with a big smile on your face, as I know I'm a very lucky person.

    To have my own grandstand is awesome. It's an initiative that we started last year and it worked so well, there was such a huge amount of support from the fans, that this year we're doing it again. We will be more than 4,000 people there this year, so it will be even bigger and more special than in 2016. It will be amazing to drive past them every lap, I just can't wait and I hope that this becomes a tradition every year!

    I have such good memories of my Spanish Grands Prix! It's very special to know that my two best race weekends as a Formula 1 driver have happened at my home GP. This means that all the support I receive works, I get an extra boost and, all together, we become very strong. I hope I'm able to keep it this way this year and add another good memory to the list!

    My food during a race weekend is always the same, no matter where we're racing in the world. The fact of being at home doesn't change much: maybe just on Sunday night, if there's something to celebrate, we go for proper Spanish food – especially jamon!

    I've also attended a few MotoGP races in Barcelona. I really like the atmosphere of this sport, I think it's quite similar to the one we live in Formula 1. I really enjoy watching two and four wheel racing! I have some good friends in the MotoGP Paddock, like Marquez or Espargaro, so I always try and show them my support when I can.”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

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Russian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO F1 TEAM

Daniil Kvyat - “The first thing that comes to my mind when I think about Russia is Sebastian… As in Sebastian Vettel. I like to torpedo Sebastian, it's my hobby! (Small pause) Okay, c'mon, you all know I'm joking! Let's get serious now. Maybe the first word that comes to mind should be ‘braking’ into Turn 1!"

    This is always a special weekend for me as it's my home race. I've had very good qualifyings there but I've never actually been able to put the perfect race together in Russia, so I'd like to achieve it this year. It's so cool to race here, I always feel the strong support of the Russian fans and I want to make the most out of this backing and thank everyone with a strong performance!

    Since the first Russian GP back in 2014, Formula 1 in Russia has definitely grown a lot. To have our own race was a big step for the country and more and more fans attend every year, so you can see that the interest in the sport is much bigger! Russia is a fantastic country for winter sports and hosting the Winter Olympics was a big event. I like to watch the biathlon, skiing. There are many cool winter sports! I'm not surprised Sochi was chosen to host the 2014 Winter Olympics, the mountains here in Sochi are fantastic!

    In 2015 I qualified in P5, which was my best qualifying result with Toro Rosso. It was quite a nice moment and I have very good memories from that day. The race wasn't great, but then the following year the situation was the opposite, with not the strongest of qualis but with a decent race. This time I'm looking to be strong on both Saturday and Sunday!”

Carlos Sainz - “I always get asked about my 2015 crash when we get to Russia, but I have to say that what I was most impressed with that weekend was the support of the fans and the whole Paddock. I remember posting a photo from the hospital to say that I was okay and I received so many good wishes, it was amazing to see how F1 comes together when these things happen. We're a big family and people really care about each other.

    I think Russia owes me one, particularly after that 2015 race where we did a massive comeback, starting from the very back and climbing up to P6 before having to retire. And last year I was just unlucky to get a piece of wing stuck in my radiator! So yes, points are on my list of objectives this time in Russia!

    I enjoy driving around where the Winter Olympics took place back in 2014. I have to say that I like the winter Olympics, particularly the skiing competitions. I always try to follow as much as I can even if I don't have much time. I also like to ski myself and I usually try and go at least once a year with my friends.

    I've learned a few Russian words thanks to my teammate, Daniil. I think its best that I don't tell you which words he's taught me. Well, the only one I will share with you I'm sure you all know: matryoshka! The most special thing about the track is Turn 3, a very long corner which is tough for the neck and enjoyable to drive.”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

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Bahrain GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO F1 TEAM

Daniil Kvyat - "This is a twilight race, so the light is different to other races that take place just after lunch. Here in Bahrain, the race starts with the sun still shining, but ends under the floodlights. So you need to have a clear visor, but the challenging part is always the start, as the sun can sometimes still be too bright for your eyes - dazzling!

    I'd say this is one of the trickiest qualifying sessions of the year because it's usually quite windy and the conditions are changing all the time. There's sometimes also a bit of sand on track, so it can be very difficult to get the perfect lap.

    I really like hot races like Bahrain, especially for its unusual night atmosphere - I think it's really cool to race in these conditions. Half of the races on the calendar should do this! The day also starts later, as the race is in the evening, which means that we can sleep more in the mornings! This is very nice and we always arrive to the circuit after a big, delicious breakfast and ready to rock the track!”

Carlos Sainz - "It's very frustrating to have not finished the race in Bahrain yet - in both cases I remember qualifying very well and doing good starts… But in 2015 we had a power unit issue and in 2016 I got hit by Perez in lap 1, so hopefully this year we can turn things around and score a good result this year: third time lucky!

    We normally go karting at the track right next to the F1 circuit and its great fun! I'd say it's actually one of the coolest karting tracks I've ever been to. I hope this year we keep the tradition and we get to go again, it's always good to have some fun!

    The race takes place in the evening in Bahrain, so the whole schedule is shifted and the day starts a bit later for us. This is good, as it allows us to spend the mornings doing a bit of sport or going to the beach, which is something different! And I have to say that the hotel we stay at in Bahrain is awesome! Its right by the beach and you can do any kind of sport you want - from squash to gym sessions, sea sports… And we always find some time to chill by the pool or at the beach, it's a must!

    I'd say I always prefer a good hot race, except for Singapore where it's a bit too hot and humid. The one thing that makes this Grand Prix tricky is the fact that on Friday we have a practice session during the day, when it's sunny and windy, and another one in the evening, when it's much cooler. This makes it very difficult to approach the weekend.”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended - Quotes belong to Drivers
Follow us on Twitter @F1Insider78 & @Bethonie_Boost 

Chinese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO F1 TEAM

Daniil Kvyat - “It was a very nice feeling to stand on the podium in China last year, I have very good memories of that moment, it was cool! This was the second podium of my career, after achieving my first one in Hungary 2015 - definitely two big highlights!

    I have to say it's a track I really enjoy driving at - it has very unusual and unique corners like Turns 1 and 2, where you can take many different lines; then it also has long straights where you can have good battles and take advantage of the many overtaking opportunities; and the fans are also very passionate there, which is good. I always receive a lot of support from them, which is nice! The strangest present a Chinese fan has ever given me is a panda teddy bear with a picture of myself on it – also for my trainer Pyry! We look quite weird on it, but it's always a good laugh!

    I've never got too close to any type of Chinese food, if I'm honest. When I visit the country I still prefer to stick to the food I know and not experiment much. I've walked around Shanghai quite a few times with my trainer. We have a few favourite places to eat over there - it's European food though, I'm quite traditional in this aspect, but it's very nice and we always try and go every year.”

Carlos Sainz - “I love Peking duck, it's actually one of my favourite dishes when I travel to Asia, especially China. Of course I always miss the Spanish or Italian cuisine, but I don't complain when there's Peking duck on the menu! I have very good memories of the driver's dinner we organised in Shanghai last year - all 22 of us got together in the city centre and it gave me the opportunity to do some sight-seeing… It's the only time I've been able to be a bit of a tourist over there.

    The only word I can say in Chinese or, better said, the only word I always remember every year is 'Ni hao'. It's a useful one to know, as I can say hello to everyone - I'm a very friendly person!

    I have to say that the paddock in China is the biggest one I've ever seen, enormous! Before a session starts, I usually give myself about a minute of time to go from my room to the garage, but here in Shanghai it's a minimum of three minutes because the distances are so big! This means I need to change all my routine and schedule for China!”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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