Former Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat says Max Verstappen’s sustained success at Red Bull in recent years stems from the team accommodating all of his needs. Verstappen has won the past two F1 Drivers’ Championships and looks well-placed to add a third title in 2023, with Red Bull’s RB19 proving the class of the field. But while Kvyat acknowledged Verstappen’s undoubted talent, the Russian added that the World Champion has everything at Red Bull set up exactly as he wants. “Of course, you have to give [Verstappen] credit,” Kvyat told the Track Limits podcast. “He’s doing an amazing job. Very strong wheel-to-wheel, probably the strongest wheel-to-wheel. “But I think everyone’s beatable in certain conditions, and the team has given him everything he needs, everything he wants.” After dominating in 2022, Red Bull have eased to victory in the first three races of 2023, and Kvyat alluded to several other teams looking towards the drinks-backed squad for inspiration for their own cars. “Now people have understood that the only way to beat them is to copy their car,” Kvyat said. “It’s as simple as that. Maybe next year, people will catch up, but this year [Red Bull] still look way ahead of everyone. “Maybe towards the end of the year, with development, people will be able to get closer, but I still think they are obviously dominating. Also, the Honda engine has been great. They have everything they need.” Kvyat rues never being Verstappen’s teammate After a promising debut F1 season at Toro Rosso in 2014, Kvyat was promoted to Red Bull for 2015, with Verstappen taking his seat at Toro Rosso. However, Kvyat would never win a race for Red Bull, and the Russian was demoted back to Toro Rosso four races into 2016 and replaced by Verstappen, who promptly won on his first outing for Red Bull at that year’s Spanish Grand Prix. Though their two Formula 1 careers have been inextricably linked, Kvyat noted regret that the two drivers were never teammates. “Everyone that Red Bull brings is the next big star. It’s always been the case,” Kvyat added. “For me, he was just the next guy I had to beat. In the end, I got a promotion to Red Bull, so unfortunately [being teammates] didn’t happen.”
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