Daniil Kvyat hopes his German Grand Prix podium finish will “send a message” that he is ready to compete for top honours on a regular basis, commenting that the result allowed "three difficult years" to "crash from my shoulders".
Kvyat captured a shock podium result at Hockenheim after making an early stop for slick tyres as the track dried during the closing stages of the race, rising from the foot of the top 10.
Kvyat held on to third spot to take his first podium finish since the 2016 Chinese Grand Prix – when he raced for Red Bull – and Toro Rosso’s first top-three result in 11 years.
Kvyat was afforded another Formula 1 chance for 2019 courtesy of the machinations in the 2018/19 driver market, having spent last year as Ferrari’s development driver in the wake of being axed by Toro Rosso in late 2017.
“It was an incredible few years in my life,” said Kvyat.
“There were a lot of realisations in my life because there were sometimes tough times, and I thought maybe Formula 1 was over for me, and especially podiums, I would never, ever, ever be [there] again.
“But life just proves if you work hard and never give up, things are possible.
“And I think this is exactly what happened. Even the race, I managed to keep it cool.
“All these three difficult years just felt like they crashed from my shoulders finally now. This changed at this race.
“It was hard work to reach this moment, and hopefully it can send a message out there that I’m ready now to fight for these kinds of moments on a consistent basis.
“There is no stronger message than a podium like this.”
Team-mate Alexander Albon secured sixth place, with the result lifting Toro Rosso to fifth in the Constructors' Championship, exceeding its 2018 points tally.
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