Red Bull Racing dump Kvyat and promote Verstappen

Red Bull Racing have shown just how cut throat life can be within the Red Bull development driver programme.

In China, Daniil Kvyat was standing on the podium for Red Bull Racing, an excellent drive from the Russian and an audacious move going into the second corner earned him a probably unexpected podium.

But in his home race in Russia, the Red Bull Racing driver punted Sebastian Vettel off the track not once, but twice!

Heading into the second corner Kvyat carried too much pace and bumped into the back of Vettel causing contact in front of him.

To make a bad situation worse, Kvyat then crashed into the back of Vettel for a second time in the third corner, spinning him off into the tyre wall forcing the German to retire and bring out a safety car.

Vettel went and had a quiet word with his former team boss Christian Horner, probably hoping rather than expecting that his former team would have a word with the Russian.

It’s unlikely that he ever thought the team would actually drop him, but that is exactly what has happened.

With Red Bull Racing using the situation to fast track Max Verstappen from Toro Rosso into the sister team in the process.

‘Max has proven to be an outstanding young talent. His performance at Toro Rosso has been impressive so far and we are pleased to give him the opportunity to drive for Red Bull Racing.

‘We are in the unique position to have all four drivers across Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso under long term contracts with Red Bull, so we have the flexibility to move them between the two teams. Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner told redbullracing.com.

He continued: ‘Dany will be able to continue his development at Toro Rosso, in a team that he is familiar with, giving him the chance to regain his form and show his potential.’

Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost told Sky Sports: ‘We are more than happy to welcome Daniil back to Faenza and look forward to having a successful season with him.’

2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button believes the decision was a harsh one, taking to Twitter to say: ‘Really? One bad race and Kyvat’s dropped, what about the podium in the previous race? #Shortmemories.