Όλο και λιγότερες γίνονται οι ομάδες που δεν έχουν επιβεβαιώσει το οδηγικό τους δίδυμο για το 2017. Η Toro Rosso έγινε η τελευταία που το κάνει αυτό, καθώς ανακοίνωσε ότι οι Carlos Sainz και Daniil Kvyat θα συνεχίσουν να αποτελούν τους οδηγούς της και για την επόμενη σεζόν. Φέτος, λόγω των κακών εμφανίσεων και των λαθών, ο Ρώσος πήρε τη θέση του Max Verstappen, ο οποίος προβιβάστηκε έτσι σε οδηγό της Red Bull.
Ο Sainz ήταν στόχος της Renault, αλλά η Red Bull είχε ξεκαθαρίσει πως ήταν αδύνατο να παραχωρήσει έναν οδηγό στον οποίο έχει επενδύσει τόσα πολλά επάνω του. Δηλώσεις των Sainz και Kvyat, αλλά και του επί κεφαλής της ιταλικής ομάδας, Franz Tost, μπορείς να βρεις στο δελτίο Τύπου που ακολουθεί.
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Scuderia Toro Rosso happily confirms 2017 driver line-up. The Team is pleased to confirm that it is keeping Daniil Kvyat on for the 2017 season. With Carlos Sainz’s future in the team already assured since earlier this summer, it means that continuity is the name of the game.
We are sure that you members of the media will be delighted to have some fresh questions to ask Daniil at last, after months of quizzing him on what he is doing next year. And to those other teams who have been sniffing around our talented pair, well hands off, they’re staying put!
Daniil Kvyat:
“Great news! 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!”
Carlos Sainz:
“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 in Toro Rosso next year. 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!”
Franz Tost:
“It makes a change to announce our driver line-up relatively early. There are so many new elements coming to Formula 1 in general and to our team specifically, in terms of the change of power unit supplier, that having the same two drivers gives us stability and a benchmark to work from. For Carlos, it will be his third year with us, which speaks volumes when it comes to how highly we rate him. In recent races, it has been clear that Daniil is back on top form. I always told him that his future with us was in his hands and he has stepped up to the mark and delivered the sort of performances that have ensured his 2017 seat in the STR 12. We now have a very talented and strong driver pairing to tackle a season in which we expect to be very competitive.”
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