Daniil Kvyat switches to Alpine F1 Team as team's reserve driver

Daniil Kvyat has been handed another F1 lifeline and will be Alpine F1's reserve driver in 2021

Daniil Kvyat, Alpine F1 Team

Kvyat will be remaining in Formula 1 for a while longer, this time with Alpine

Alpine F1 Team

Daniil Kvyat will remain in Formula 1 with Alpine F1 Team after the French team revealed him to be the team’s reserve driver for the 2021 season.

Kvyat was out of a drive at AlphaTauri after the team announced last season that Red Bull junior Yuki Tsunoda would join Pierre Gasly at the Faenza team, but the Russian has found a new home.

The team revealed Kvyat as its reserve during its 2021 F1 car launch, and the Russian brings plenty of experience with him. In 2018, he was in a similar spot after losing his drive at Toro Rosso but switched to Ferrari to become the simulator driver at Maranello.

The 26-year-old said his new role would keep him on his toes and that he was looking forward to helping the team progress further up the grid.

“I am very excited to join the Alpine F1 Team family. The team has achieved some great results in the past year and is very technologically advanced,” he said.

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“Development has been strong, and I am aiming to contribute to this positive trend. I will try to bring my experience on and off track to help develop the A521 and future cars as well.

“As a Reserve Driver you need to keep sharp and I look forward to integrating into the team in several different areas.”

Kvyat has 110 race starts under his belt during his F1 career, including 202 points, three podium finishes and one fastest lap to his name from six seasons of racing.

Last year, he finished the season 14th in the drivers’ championship and scored a season-best finish of fourth at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola.

“Throughout his career, Daniil has forged a reputation as a very quick driver, but has also shown great resilience,” Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi said.

“We are pleased to have yet another determined and talented driver in our ranks as we make our first F1 campaign as Alpine F1 Team.”