For Daniil Kvyat, the 2016 Formula One season was a rollercoaster. He started his second year with Red Bull and finished on the podium in third place in the third race of the season in China, but everything changed after that.

He had a dispute with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel in Russia, and for the next race in Spain, he no longer appeared for Red Bull. He was sent to the company's second team, Toro Rosso, and his place was taken by Max Verstappen.

It was a tough stage for the Russian, who only scored points three times, with tenth place finishes in Spain and Great Britain, and a ninth place finish in Singapore, which was enough for him to be confirmed by the team for the 2017 season.

With a secure seat, Kvyat's task is to get back to his level, although he doesn't believe he lost it: "I never left, so I see it as my fourth year in Formula One and I'm ready to fight," the driver said in an interview with La Afición.

Daniil had the opportunity to prepare the car from scratch with the team, so he comes with different expectations compared to last season, when he had less than two weeks to adapt.

"I feel good, positive and ready for what's coming. I've worked hard with my engineers during the winter and now it's time to start and race," explained the Russian.

Although it is only the first race of the season in Australia, Kvyat analyzes what may come in the future and expects an intense battle with Force India, Williams, Renault, and even McLaren, who are behind the three powerhouses: Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari.

"It's early to set goals, but I believe we will be in the middle of the grid, where there will be a close fight and the team that does a better job among those teams will be the best of the rest. We hope it will be us, that's the goal, but of course, you always want to improve."

The 22-year-old will experience his fourth season in the Grand Circus, but he knows it will be different with the regulation change that will make the cars faster, which will be more entertaining for the rest of the drivers.

"The cars this year are more fun to drive. When you arrive at a corner, they grip and continue, it's extraordinary. In the beginning, you have to adapt because it's a different story, but you quickly get used to the good things," he concluded.