Russian driver says he hasn't started looking at fallback 2016 options if Red Bull follow through on threats and quit F1
Friday 9 October 2015 11:12, UK
Daniil Kvyat says he is trying his best to keep his focus on racing matters amid the continued uncertainty over Red Bull's F1 future.
With a split from Renault imminent, Red Bull are yet to source the 'competitive' engine for 2016 which team owner Dietrich Mateschitz had made clear is central to their continued involvement in the sport beyond the end of this season.
Ahead of his home Russian Grand Prix this weekend, Kvyat continues to have faith that the team's management will find a solution to race on.
"It's not a pleasurable situation, but it is what it is," the 21-year-old told Sky Sports News HQ. "My job is to still drive the car as fast as I can, I just leave the other guys in our team to do this part of the job."
With just seven weeks of the season to go, any withdrawal by the company from F1 would place the futures of Kvyat and the other highly-rated drivers on their books - Red Bull Racing's Daniel Ricciardo and Toro Rosso's Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz - into doubt heading into the 2016 season. Just four seats on next year's grid remain unfilled elsewhere.
Even if Red Bull do stay on, Kvyat's position alongside Ricciardo has yet to be confirmed. Asked if he was yet looking around at other options, Kvyat replied: "No. I'm just doing my job as good as I can and then we'll see what will happen next year."
Kvyat's more immediate focus is this weekend's Russian race as Red Bull aim to bounce back from their first point-less race of the season a fortnight ago in Japan.
The Sochi Autodrom hosts F1 for the second time and Russia's sole representative on the grid says last year's inaugural event piqued local interest in the sport.
"Last year there were plenty of Russian fans in the grandstands and they had to extend a bit the number of seats available," Kvyat added. "Hopefully they will be filled up as well [this year], which will mean that it was a very successful event."
Don't miss Sky Sports F1's live weekend-long coverage of the 2015 Russian Grand Prix. Our race-day show begins at 10.30am on Sunday, with lights out at 12 noon. Watch the Russian GP for £6.99 with NOW TV
