Kvyat in dire need of shut down as pressure became unbearable

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Following his demotion from Red Bull to Toro Rosso, and as he struggled to perform, Daniil Kvyat considered the summer break in August as a welcomed respite from a period of doubt and massive pressure.

Although his results could have been better, Kvyat's level of performance at the start of the season was pretty much been in line with his own expectations.

But the Red Bull-Toro Rosso switch with Max Verstappen at the Spanish Grand Prix set in motion not only a period of under-performance but also one of personal doubt and uncertainty which, slowly but surely, is now being alleviated.

"I really needed the shutdown to be honest," said Kvyat.

"There was a lot of accumulated stress, thoughts, pressure building up. It just built up too much, a bit over the edge, but I was able to free my mind.

"It was unfortunate for the team the last two races [high-speed circuits Spa and Monza] were completely unsuitable for our car.

"I was able to work in the shadows and optimise things, and I can see my engineer is a lot calmer now, which is nice to see.

"There are three or four races ahead of us where we can show better potential because the tracks should suit us better.

"It's still not going to be easy, we will need to get it right, but we're going to go out there and have fun."

Red Bull has yet to decide Kvyat's fate for 2017, but with young gun and GP2 leader Pierre Gasly waiting impatiently in the wings, the Russian knows he will have to deliver a string of good performances if he is to remain in the Red Bull stable.

"Obviously Red Bull has a lot of influence on me.

"Formula 1 is a sport where anything can happen, and in the last five years there have been a lot of up and downs, with the last six months quite different - not very comfortable for working.

"I still believe I'm reaching my potential, so for me it's all quite fine. I'm enjoying every time I'm on track. I'm able to stay focused, I'm able to work well with my engineers, and we believe we're able to get closer and closer to the limit of the car.

"So far my best race weekends have been in Baku and Monaco, and hopefully that will be the case again [on another street track] in Singapore."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.