Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs
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As the 2013 Formula One World Championship draws to a close, the game of musical chairs that is the off season is gearing up. Ferrari has already poached Kimi Raikkonen, leaving Felipe Massa without a ride and an open seat at Lotus. Mercedes and McLaren are expected to keep the same drivers, but with Mark Webber leaving F1 for Porsche’s Le Mans team, Red Bull called up Daniel Ricciardo from Scuderia Toro Rosso, leaving a seat open at the b-squad.
Now Toro Rosso has confirmed it has signed Daniil Kvyat to fill Ricciardo’s vacancy. Daniil who now, you ask? Daniil Kvyat, a promising up-and-coming racer supported by Red Bull’s junior driver program. Working his way successfully up the formula racing ladder, Kvyat spent this season driving for top teams in both the GP3 Series and European Formula 3 Championship at the same time… and winning races in both. Although not classified for points in F3, he’s currently in second place in the GP3 standings. He also tested for Toro Rosso this past July in the official young driver test at Silverstone.
Kvyat is the latest in a string of Russian racing drivers. Vitaly Petrov drove for Lotus and Caterham, scoring a podium finish at the 2011 Australian Grand Prix, but didn’t land a drive this season. Sergey Sirotkin has signed with Sauber for next season, accompanying a marked increase in Russian sponsorship and involvement in the sport. Russian investors have bought their way into the troubled Sauber team, Marussia bought the former Virgin team in 2010, and the inaugural Russian Grand Prix is set to take place next October in Sochi.
Earlier bets were that Toro Rosso would go with Antonio Felix da Costa, but a downward turn in the young Portuguese driver’s performance - and an upturn in Kvyat’s - lead them to go with Daniil instead. He’ll partner with Jean-Eric Vergne, who stays on with the team. Williams, Lotus and Force India have yet to confirm their drivers for next year, and Caterham, Marussia and Sauber each have a seat open as well.Continue reading Toro Rosso promotes Daniil Kvyat to F1
Toro Rosso promotes Daniil Kvyat to F1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Oct 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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