Red Bull Replace Daniil Kvyat with Max Verstappen Ahead of Spanish F1 Grand Prix

Red Bull have confirmed that Daniil Kvyat has been dropped to Toro Rosso and will be replaced by Max Verstappen ahead of May 15's Formula One Spanish Grand Prix.

The decision comes following Russian Kvyat's calamitous performance at his home Grand Prix on Sunday, during which he crashed into Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel twice in two corners, and team principal Christian Horner explained the decision to promote Verstappen from Toro Rosso, per Red Bull Racing:

"

Max has proven to be an outstanding young talent. His performance at Toro Rosso has been impressive so far and we are pleased to give him the opportunity to drive for Red Bull Racing.

We are in the unique position to have all four drivers across Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso under long term contracts with Red Bull, so we have the flexibility to move them between the two teams.

Dany will be able to continue his development at Toro Rosso, in a team that he is familiar with, giving him the chance to regain his form and show his potential.

"

Per BBC Sport's Andrew Benson, the swap will remain in place for the rest of the season.

Vettel was forced to retire in Sochi after being hit by Kyvat in the first lap at the second corner and then the third, prompting a furious, expletive-ridden reaction from the German world champion on his team radio, per F1 journalist Gianlu D'Alessandro:

The pair had clashed previously at this season's Chinese Grand Prix, and although Vettel's ire on that occasion was somewhat unfair, Kyvat was undoubtedly at fault in Russia.

However, Kyvat's immediate demotion seems unduly harsh, especially considering the 22-year-old headed team-mate Daniel Ricciardo in the drivers' standings last season.

He also claimed Red Bull's only podium place of the current campaign so far in China, a result highlighted by McLaren driver Jenson Button, who expressed his disappointment at the decision from Red Bull:

Kyvat was promoted to Red Bull from Toro Rosso in 2015 to replace four-time world champion Vettel.

He apologised for the incident after the race in Russia and took full responsibility, per Formula1.com: 

"

There was a bit going on [at the start] and I think in the last moment I didn't expect it to slow so much. 

I tried to press the brakes, the rear wheels locked and the first contact came from that. The second contact he just slowed down a lot, I couldn't see ahead, and I didn't have time to react.

All the mess came from me… of course it doesn't feel great but these things happen sometimes. It's probably the messiest [start] of my career. I will learn from it - and of course apologies to everyone involved.

"

However, he has now paid a big price for his errors and will have to prove himself at Toro Rosso for the rest of the campaign or risk a premature end to his fledgling Formula One career, per British racing driver Dino Zamparelli:

For 18-year-old Verstappen, though, it is a huge opportunity after he debuted as F1's youngest-ever driver last season.

He is a huge talent, and motorsport reporter Richard Bayliss speculated that Red Bull may have been looking for an excuse to promote him from Toro Rosso:

The Dutchman will be under pressure to outperform Kyvat in the coming races, but he has the remainder of the season to secure his spot in the Red Bull car for the foreseeable future.