Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost has suggested that Daniil Kvyat has the "champion gene" to get over his difficult start to life at Red Bull.
The Russian youngster replaced Ferrari-bound Sebastian Vettel over the winter at the Milton Keynes-based outfit, but has only scored five points in as many races.
However, Tost believes that Kvyat has the ability to be a success in Formula 1.
"It takes time to mature in an F1 car," Tost told Formula 1.com. "That is why I say that I want to work with drivers for three years and then hand them over.
"Daniil had only one year with Toro Rosso. He is facing car troubles and is simply not as experienced as Daniel Ricciardo, who was with us for three years and had half a year with HRT [Hispania].
"Daniil is a very highly skilled driver and I am convinced that if his car is reliable he will be very fast. He will have a successful future. He is very, very skilled – he has the champion gene."
Both Kvyat and Ricciardo were lapped during last week's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, although the Red Bull pair did manage top-10 finishes at the Circuit de Catalunya.
Chris O'Keefe
