Former Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat has revealed that he felt “betrayed” by Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko, who he worked closely with throughout his junior career.
Kvyat raced for Red Bull for just over a year, with the Russian having replaced four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel in 2015.
He went on to finish ahead of team-mate at the time Daniel Ricciardo in the Drivers’ Championship, before being replaced by reigning World Champion Max Verstappen just five rounds into the 2016 season.
Kvyat was demoted back to Toro Rosso (known now as AlphaTauri) whom he raced for in 2014, with Verstappen having gone the other way.
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Despite having claimed a podium in one of the opening rounds of the 2016 season, Kvyat was demoted due to causing too many incidents, with Vettel in particular having often criticised the driver who replaced him.
As a result of being demoted, Kvyat was left incredibly unhappy with the Austrians, after feeling like they dumped him after he helped the side navigate through “their sh*ttiest times”.
“From Toro Rosso to Red Bull, not easy of course,” Kvyat told the Track Limits podcast.
“It’s a different F1 team, the top and the midfield has a different mentality. Also very difficult times for the team. Everyone was very stressed. It was the opposite of now, now they have a dominant car at the time it was one of their worst cars.
“Christian [Horner] wasn’t happy. Helmut [Marko] wasn’t wasn’t happy. So they were difficult times at Red Bull.
“So to basically help them get through their sh*ttiest times and then they get rid of you… But whatever, it was still a great chapter.
“I saw how a top team works. The pressure is different there. Everything at stake is different and the politics are also very strong.”
Kvyat ultimately never performed at a great level again, with him having remained with the Faenza-based team until the end of 2020.
He was also dropped for the 2018 season before returning in 2019.
The Russian also discussed what it was like working alongside Marko, who is known for being ruthless at times.
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Whilst he remains on good terms with the 79-year-old, Kvyat admits he “felt a bit betrayed” by Marko after his Red Bull exit, with that switch having somewhat been the beginning of the end for Kvyat in F1.
“He’s a big boss. He can be tough. I appreciate always his honesty. Sometimes, of course, I felt a bit betrayed by him,” Kvyat admitted.
“But, you know life happens. It’s normal. In the end it’s also business, you know? Relationship is good, still to this day, and no big issues [now].”