Toro Rosso, or AlphaTauri as it is now called, has always been a breeding ground for young drivers to test their mettle in F1. Daniil Kvyat, part of the Red Bull drivers’ program, has also occupied a seat at AlphaTauri for some time now.

But just a few months ago, rumors emerged about young F2 racer Yuki Tsunoda replacing the Russian for 2021 and beyond. And now, that move is close to being confirmed in the coming days.

So has Kvyat really performed that badly to not warrant a seat in the sport next year? Or is there a general notion or consensus that his time in Formula 1 is now up?

Daniil Kvyat played a very good supporting role at AlphaTauri in 2020

In the team’s charge to secure P6 in the Constructors’ Standings, Kvyat stood the test of time and partnered Gasly to some impressive team finishes. And although Ferrari just about edged the P6 spot, the Russian’s contributions in 2020 have been notable at times.

For a fair statistical comparison, Sebastian Vettel (33) only has one point more than Kvyat (32) this year.

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Granted, he is not on the same level as the team’s star driver, Pierre Gasly, who received praise for his brilliant win at Monza. However, everyone knows that in Formula 1, having an effective driver pairing is what makes the team tick on the track.

Gasly’s late surge at Imola saw him finish P4 in the Emilia Romagna GP, and with a few more laps, he might have even overtaken Daniel Ricciardo for the final podium place. This achievement was even more phenomenal considering Gasly had already retired from the race with a coolant leak issue.

Kvyat’s F1 experience should aid his return in 2022

While it would be nothing short of a travesty to lose a driver of Kvyat’s caliber next season, 2022 is always an option. Teams undergoing regulation changes might also reconsider their drivers’ lineups and decide to go with the Russian racer as a candidate.

The F1 community is speaking about potentially losing Sergio Perez from the sport and highlighting how he should be offered a seat at Red Bull.

But while that will go on, one must certainly not forget Kvyat and his performances that have made him the driver he is today. F1 will definitely miss him in 2021, but there is always hope that he gets a seat ahead of the 2022 season.