Daniil Kvyat has denied his surprise promotion to Toro Rosso for 2014 is being powered by Russian sponsors.<\/p>\n
“To come into formula one, especially with Toro Rosso, all that matters is the performance and the results,” the 19-year-old GP3 driver told Championat.<\/p>\n
Kvyat admitted, however, that his “door is open” to potential partners.<\/p>\n
“We might be able to make some announcement,” he told the Russian publication, “but I think we are far away from that.”<\/p>\n
It is also believed Kvyat’s signing, ahead of Carlos Sainz jr and Portuguese Antonio Felix da Costa, could be related to the inaugural Russian grand prix next year.<\/p>\n
Former Toro Rosso co-owner Gerhard Berger, however, said Kvyat’s talent is obvious.<\/p>\n
“He is a natural,” the grand prix winner is quoted by APA news agency.<\/p>\n
“He has brought strong results despite not having the best car.”<\/p>\n
Berger said he thinks Kvyat will cope, even though he is skipping the recognised final steps to F1 such as GP2 or the Formula Renault 3.5 series.<\/p>\n
“Toro Rosso is a good school, and a good driver will always manage,” he said.<\/p>\n
Kvyat told the Russian website f1news.ru that he felt his chances intensify as he built momentum this year with strong results in GP3 and F3.<\/p>\n
“All of the key people at Red Bull saw that I was able to win races in two different series,” he said.\u00a0 “I think this led to the decision.”<\/p>\n
At the same time, hot favourite da Costa was struggling in Formula Renault 3.5.<\/p>\n
“This year, he had to fight for the title,” said Kvyat, “but it didn’t come together, let’s say, smoothly.<\/p>\n
“With me, the opposite happened — at first it was not easy, but I learned to cope with it well and I think all the right people appreciated it.”<\/p>\n
He insists he is not too young or inexperienced for F1.<\/p>\n
“I have done about 160 races in the junior categories, and had many podiums and victories,” said Kvyat.<\/p>\n
“Kimi Raikkonen did I think 32 races and then came into formula one, so I don’t see any problems.\u00a0 Vettel debuted at about the same age.”<\/p>\n
Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko agreed: “Everyone who has been involved in the decision said Daniil, through his performance, his speed and his maturity, was the ideal candidate.”<\/p>\n
He told Spain’s El Confidencial that speculation linking Kvyat’s deal with the Russian grand prix is wide of the mark.<\/p>\n
“We looked for what is best for Red Bull and what is best for Toro Rosso in the medium term,” said Marko.<\/p>\n
He said Kvyat will be given some time to get up to speed with experienced teammate Jean-Eric Vergne.<\/p>\n
“Of course he will have to learn how it works in formula one, learn the tracks, but I would say that after six or eight races he should be in a position to stand up to Vergne,” said Marko.<\/p>\n
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