Russia’s Daniil Kvyat says he feels “lucky” to have a home race in Formula One, with the Red Bull driver also proud to have a grandstand named after him at Sochi Autodrom.
The Russian Grand Prix is a recent addition to the calendar with the inaugural event taking place in 2014, the year when Kvyat made his F1 debut.
With the third edition of the Sochi event brought forward from its original October date to next weekend, the 21-year-old is preparing for a packed schedule in the build-up to the race.
“I’m very excited to get back to Russia for the Grand Prix,” Kvyat said. “It’s an important race for me and it’s nice to see my family and friends and all the fans who come to support me and the team in Sochi. I can’t wait!
“It will be a hectic week and thinking about Daniel’s busy week in Australia it’s a bit of a payback for me in a way but you already got into quite a good rhythm after the first few races so you’re used to it in a way. In the end it’s my home race and that gives me an extra boost as well. It’s very nice to have a home race. It’s very special for every driver so I think I’m very lucky to have one.”
Kvyat’s second career podium finish in Shanghai last weekend made him the most successful Russian driver in F1 history, though he was only preceded by Vitaly Petrov. It is therefore hardly surprising to see Sochi officials honour their fellow countryman with a grandstand carrying its name.
“It’s a very modern track with a few corners that look quite similar but they are never as easy as they might look, because you have to try and drive the car on the limit each time you turn,” the former GP3 Series champion added.
“I think Turn 4 is the nicest corner, and it’s also the grandstand named after me. I see my face on that corner often during the race, and that support is really nice. Any time I want to say something cool I say: I have a grandstand named after me!”
Kvyat qualified a strong fifth at Sochi in 2014 for Toro Rosso but slipped down the order during the race. Last year, the home favourite was a quiet 11th on the grid but the Red Bull ace fought his way up to fifth in the grand prix.
Out of the current F1 drivers, Kimi Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas (Finland), Romain Grosjean (France), Rio Haryanto (Indonesia), Kevin Magnussen (Denmark), Marcus Ericsson (Sweden), and Max Verstappen (The Netherlands) do not have a home race on the calendar.
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Scene at the Chinese Grand Prix
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