Daniil Kvyat called Marko before Ricciardo's Red Bull exit public
Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko says Daniil Kvyat approached him about Daniel Ricciardo's move to the Renault Formula 1 team before Ricciardo himself told Marko he was leaving
Ricciardo's move to Renault opened up a seat at Red Bull that was subsequently handed to Toro Rosso's Pierre Gasly, in turn freeing up a seat that has now been confirmed as Kvyat's.
It means Kvyat will return for a third spell at Toro Rosso in 2019, and Marko says that he had stayed in touch with Kvyat after he was dropped by Red Bull and moved to Ferrari as its test and simulator driver.
"We have been in contact," Marko told Autosport. "He was informed about Ricciardo's move before it was announced, so he rang me before Ricciardo did.
"But we had been in contact before that already.
"He's more mature, he's more settled, and I think we will see the fast Kvyat as we have in [our] memory.
"He's more hungry, and he saw how difficult it is to get a seat in F1.
"Now he starts everything new, there are all chances."
Marko says he understands why Kvyat struggled to find form in 2017, which led to his exit from Toro Rosso following the United States Grand Prix.
"We saw it when he was driving last year. It was a spiral," said Marko.
"He told me the reasons why things happened. His whole environment is a much better one.
He also believes that Kvyat has learned from his spell at Ferrari.
"It helps, he got a much wider view of what F1 is. A very good education," Marko said.
"I am confident [in Kvyat]. The Honda engine, and more or less half the chassis from RBR, it could be a surprise for a lot of people."
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