Marko Says Kvyat Has Recovered After Difficult Red Bull Start
Helmut Marko credits Daniil Kvyat’s recent performances with putting his Red Bull Formula One career back on track after a challenging start to 2015.
Daniil Kvyat’s place at Red Bull looked uncertain earlier in the 2015 Formula One season, but Helmut Marko now says the Russian has recovered from his poor start and is back on form. Kvyat’s early season struggles, particularly in comparison to teammate Daniel Ricciardo, had cast doubt over his future in the notoriously tough Red Bull driver programme.
Marko, who oversees Red Bull’s driver development, told Spain’s El Confidencial that Kvyat’s difficulties were mainly caused by technical problems, specifically referencing the Renault power unit issues that have affected the team throughout 2015. Despite the challenges, Kvyat’s performances improved leading up to and during the Silverstone Grand Prix, prompting Marko to publicly back his driver.
Red Bull’s engine supplier relationship with Renault has been a persistent source of frustration this season, with both Kvyat and Ricciardo hampered by reliability and power deficits compared to Mercedes-powered rivals. Marko admitted it is hard to keep a driver motivated when technical disadvantages limit their ability to compete, but said Kvyat has managed to overcome these setbacks in recent races.
Pressure from Red Bull’s driver pipeline
Kvyat’s position was under particular scrutiny given Red Bull’s tradition of promoting young talent rapidly and moving on just as quickly. The emergence of Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz at Toro Rosso this season raised the stakes, with Marko describing them as "two exceptional young drivers". This fuelled speculation that Kvyat, only 21, could be replaced if his results did not improve.
Despite the pressure, Kvyat’s recent results have eased concerns over his seat. Marko’s comments suggest Red Bull will continue to support him, at least in the short term, as long as his performances remain strong and technical issues do not resurface.
Technical challenges for Red Bull in 2015
The Renault engine’s lack of power and reliability has been a major talking point throughout the season, affecting both Red Bull and Toro Rosso. Marko’s remarks underline how these issues have complicated driver assessments, as it is difficult to judge performance fairly when equipment is not competitive. Both Kvyat and Ricciardo have called for improvements from Renault as the team seeks to close the gap to the front of the grid.
