Toro Rosso retains Kvyat alongside Sainz for 2017

Toro Rosso has announced it will keep Daniil Kvyat alongside Carlos Sainz for the 2017 season.

The young Russian started the year with Red Bull but was returned to Toro Rosso after four races as Max Verstappen was promoted in his place. After a difficult start to life back at his old team, Kvyat's form has picked up in recent races and Toro Rosso has now confirmed he will be retained for 2017.

“Great news!" Kvyat said. "I’d like to thank Red Bull, Dr. Marko and all the team for their support and the faith they have shown in me since I returned to the team earlier this year. I’m very happy to stay with a team that feels like home to me.

"I’m really looking forward to continuing the hard work together in 2017 and I’m really aiming high. I will always be fully dedicated, giving my ‘200%’, and I will be pushing as hard as I usually do, that’s for sure. I’m delighted!”

The move keeps Kvyat alongside Sainz for a second season, with the Spaniard pleased to have the same team-mate next year.

“Considering how many changes there are in the Formula 1 pipeline for 2017, it’s good to know that Daniil and I will continue to be teammates here at Toro Rosso next year," Sainz said. "We know each other very well, as we’ve been racing together since 2010, and we work well together. I know that this season isn’t over yet, but I’m already looking forward to next year!”

The move leaves Pierre Gasly facing an uncertain future, with the Frenchman having been favourite to replace Kvyat at Toro Rosso if Red Bull opted for a change of line-up.

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.