The day before, Daniil Kvyat’s contract with the Lamborghini factory team was announced for performances in the top class of the LMDh World Endurance Championship and in the IMSA series. A native of Ufa, who now competes under the Italian flag, spoke about what attracted him to the Lamborghini project.
Daniil Kvyat: “Lamborghini is a brand with a worldwide reputation and a rich history, which in itself is worth a lot. As we negotiated, I realized more and more how serious the company’s plans are. We want to fight for the highest results and achieve something really worthwhile. I realized that I should be part of this project.
I can give the team the experience and commitment to results. I am still young, but I have a lot of racing experience, I have spent many seasons in Formula 1 and I consider myself suitable for the Lamborghini project. All of the team’s riders, as well as Squadra Corse leader Giorgio Sanna, want to achieve great results in LMDh, the top class of the WEC.
I don’t think that I will have to radically change my piloting technique, but, of course, I don’t know this championship very well. I need to gain some experience, so in 2023 I will be driving in the LMP2 class with Prema, and then we will switch to the development of a hypercar for racing next LMDh season. I intend to improve with every race – I need results and I will try to win.”
Recalling performances in Formula 1, Daniil Kvyat said that he was pleased with himself: “I went from Toro Rosso to the main Red Bull team. I think I did well, considering that in 2015 Red Bull had probably the worst car in a long time with big reliability issues. Perhaps I was in the team at the wrong time, which in Formula 1 is often a decisive factor.
After leaving Red Bull Racing, Daniil Kvyat worked with Ferrari, helping the team to finalize the car. The driver admitted that for him the results of the Scuderia at the beginning of the season came as a surprise: “I thought that everything would go differently for them, given the good car in 2022. However, given the alignment of forces, I would say that it will be difficult for them to bounce back in the short term.
Ferrari needs a technical revolution. The team has a new leader, but perhaps they should have hired technicians from other teams, engineers capable of designing competitive cars. They should have done exactly what Red Bull did with Mercedes or Aston Martin with Red Bull.
Given the results of the first races, Max Verstappen has a great chance of winning the title. Sergio Perez also has them, but minimal. Everyone in the team definitely works for Verstappen, who has already won two titles. As for the Constructors’ Championship, I have no doubt that it will go to Red Bull.”
Commented on Kvyat and the success of Fernando Alonso: “He shows incredible results and proves that at a certain level, age is not a deterrent.
I think it’s too early to talk about Alonso’s chances for a third title. Yes, Aston Martin has a competitive car, but still not enough to win. Also, from a political standpoint, having a Mercedes engine… Let’s just say it’s hard for the client team to win.”
