Finishing ninth at the 2014 Australian Grand Prix, nineteen-year-old Daniil Kvyat became the youngest points-scorer in Formula One history at the time. This debut marked the beginning of a seven-year tenure in the sport, defined by an early promotion to Red Bull Racing and subsequent stints across the Toro Rosso and AlphaTauri teams before moving into endurance racing.
Early Career and Karting
Born in Ufa in 1994, Kvyat began competitive karting at age ten after moving to Moscow. In 2007, he relocated to Italy to advance his professional training. After initial struggles with the Zanardi factory team, he joined Morsicani Racing, where he secured wins in the WSK series and the Trofeo delle Industrie. His 2009 performance at the Winter Cup, where he rose from the back of the grid to win, helped secure support from the Red Bull Junior Team.
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Kvyat transitioned to junior formulae in 2010. By 2012, he claimed 23 victories in Formula Renault 2.0, winning the Alps Series and finishing runner-up to Stoffel Vandoorne in the Eurocup. He followed this by winning the GP3 Series in his rookie year with Arden. These results earned him a seat at Toro Rosso for the 2014 Formula One season, where he drove under the number 26.
Red Bull and Formula One Tenure
Promoted to the parent Red Bull team in 2015, Kvyat outscored teammate Daniel Ricciardo and achieved a maiden podium in Hungary. He secured a second podium in China in 2016 before a collision at the Russian Grand Prix led to his replacement by Max Verstappen. Kvyat returned to the Toro Rosso and AlphaTauri fold between 2017 and 2020, capturing his third career podium at the German Grand Prix. He concluded his Formula One career as the most successful Russian driver, having recorded three podiums and one fastest lap.
Transition to Endurance Racing
Following a reserve driver role with Alpine in 2021, Kvyat shifted his focus to the FIA World Endurance Championship. By 2024, he signed with Lamborghini to compete in the premier Hypercar class alongside teammates Mirko Bortolotti and Edoardo Mortara, with the team scheduling a transition to the IMSA SportsCar Championship for 2025.
Fast facts
- Born: 26 April 1994, Ufa, Russia
- Formula One debut: 2014 Australian Grand Prix
- Formula One teams: Toro Rosso, Red Bull, AlphaTauri
- Formula One podiums: 3
- Race number: 26
- Languages: Russian, English, Italian, Spanish
- Current team: Lamborghini (Hypercar class)
- Residency: Monaco
Questions readers ask
Which racing number does Daniil Kvyat use?
He chose number 26, stating he had no previous connection to it and wished to make the number successful.
What is his most notable achievement in Formula One?
He remains the most successful Russian driver in the sport's history, having achieved three podium finishes and one fastest lap.
