Daniil Kvyat says he never felt he had the full backing of his bosses at Red Bull during his time with the team.
The Russian driver was replaced after four races of this season, returning to Toro Rosso while Red Bull promoted Max Verstappen. The driver swap came despite Kvyat finishing on the podium at this year's Chinese Grand Prix and he admits his radio message to team principal Christian Horner - "hopefully the first of many more together" - after the race in Shanghai was made knowing his seat could be under threat.
"There was something always going on," Kvyat told F1i during an exclusive interview. "I always felt like I wouldn’t say there was 120% support if you want, which I think it should be like if you want to build a successful team.
"From the top guys it never felt like that so I always tried to make a step closer and of course that radio message was one of those many steps that I always tried to make."
And Kvyat admits he was wary change could happen at Red Bull but was caught out at the timing of his move to Toro Rosso.
"Of course I felt that something was in the air, of course I knew that maybe in the second half of the season there would be many things going on. I wasn’t ready for it to happen so early, it came as a hit. It didn’t feel nice at the time but now to be honest I’ve left it behind quite quickly.
"I come here now with a new old team if you want, trying to take any opportunity that is on the table. As long as you are here there will always be something on the table for you to pick up and then you have to make the best use out of it as possible, also outside the track."
Daniil Kvyat exclusive: Time to think about life after Red Bull
Romain Grosjean column: 'I want Jules to always be with us'
Silbermann says ... Easyjet-set
Chris Medland's 2016 Monaco Grand Prix preview
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
