Daniil Kvyat to rejoin Toro Rosso in 2019

Daniil Kvyat will rejoin Toro Rosso for the 2019 season as replacement for Pierre Gasly.

Russian Kvyat drove for the team in 2014 and at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix and last year’s United States Grand Prix.

French driver Gasly is set to move up to the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team, to replace Renault-bound Daniel Ricciardo.

“First of all, I would like to thank Red Bull and Toro Rosso for giving me this opportunity to race in Formula One again and I am particularly pleased to be returning to a team I know very well,” 24-year-old Kvyat told the Toro Rosso website.

“Toro Rosso has always made me feel at home and I’m sure it will still be the same next season.

“I never gave up hope of racing again, I am still young and I have kept in good shape to always be prepared in case another opportunity presented itself.

“I will give my best to deliver what the team expects from me and I can’t wait for everything to start again.”

Kvyat was dropped from Toro Rosso last season after a disappointing run of form culminated in a crash during the 2017 Singapore Grand Prix.

Team principal Franz Tost says Kvyat is a “high-skilled driver with fantastic natural speed”.

“I believe he deserves another chance in Formula One,” said Tost.

“Daniil is a high-skilled driver with fantastic natural speed, which he has proven several times in his career.

“There were some difficult situations he had to face in the past, but I’m convinced that having had time to mature as a person away from the races will help him show his undeniable capabilities on track.

“We’ll push very hard to provide him with a good package, and I feel the best is yet to come from his side.”