Kvyat driving blind in Turkey due to Covid restrictions

Daniil Kvyat has revealed Covid-19 restrictions have prevented him accessing his teams’ race simulator and, as a result, he will be driving blind when he turns up to prepare for this weekend’s race in Istanbul.

The Turkish circuit is returning to the calendar for the first time since 2011, and many drivers will arrive with only past visits in the junior categories and any ‘virtual’ experience they can get to draw from.

But AlphaTauri driver Kvyat, who lives in Monaco, explained: “I’ve never raced in any category at the Istanbul circuit and, with the current situation, I’ve not even been able to try it on the simulator, so I will be really starting from zero.

“Of course, I know where the corners go and have watched old races from there. I know it runs anti-clockwise, like the last race in Imola, and that it climbs and drops a lot, so I expect it will be an interesting weekend.”

Travel restrictions around the world, coupled with an increase in lockdowns, have restricted the ability for drivers to train and prepare in the ways they would typically do so.

They have also had to severely limit social contact to avoid catching the virus and missing races and Kvyat added: “I was always aware of the need to be very careful with regards to the Covid situation.

“In fact, I’ve been careful all year, but you have to find a way to safely live a little, otherwise, you go crazy! I’ve just focussed on the basics of good hygiene and keeping my distance from others, wearing a mask and so on.”

His team-mate Pierre Gasly added: “It [has been] a case of staying at home as much as possible while training and ensuring that any trips to a gym were done without taking any risks regarding the virus.

“Keeping fit and just getting on with life is becoming more complicated now with the additional restrictions coming into force. You have to stick to the rules and ensure you don’t catch it so you can finish the season.”

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