Russian GP: Kvyat says no 'magic' behind fifth place in qualifying

A week on from being announced as four-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel's 2015 replacement at Red Bull, Kvyat has been competitive throughout the Sochi weekend and beat his previous best grid position of seventh at the Red Bull Ring by two places.

Asked by AUTOSPORT if that was the best he had driven in 2014, Kvyat replied: "Looking back, at the Red Bull Ring in qualifying, where DRS didn't work for me on my fast lap, I could have been P5, no doubt.

"Still, I drove a few good qualifyings this year. Today is probably one of the best in terms of driving, but still it's not like I found some magic trick today.

"I was just doing what I was always doing, but we came fifth today."

Kvyat said there was no obvious technical reason why he and Toro Rosso were stronger at Sochi.

"There are many medium speed corners, low speed corners. Honestly until now, I always preferred the high speed tracks, coming here I looked at the configuration and I thought this might be a bit tougher for me," he said.

"But in the end it looked like it suits me very well."

Though he doubts he can match Mercedes or its pole rival Valtteri Bottas of Williams in the race, Kvyat expects to challenge second-row qualifier Jenson Button.

"McLaren looks within reach actually, because looking at the lap times we ended up very close together," he said.

"Anything can happen, and we just have to make an opportunity tomorrow because it is a great chance."

MAKING Q3 'AMAZING' FOR VERGNE

Jean-Eric Vergne was 0.8 seconds and four places behind Kvyat in qualifying in the other Toro Rosso. He said he had an engine issue that cost him between half a second and seven tenths.

"Considering that it was amazing to get into Q3 and still produce a good lap with the problem," said Vergne.