Gasly replaces Kvyat at Toro Rosso

Pierre Gasly will replace Daniil Kvyat for Toro Rosso for at least the upcoming Malaysia Grand Prix and the following round in Japan, the team has announced.

Red Bull junior Gasly won last year's GP2 championship and was originally lined up to replace Carlos Sainz from this weekend's race, with Renault having been keen to secure the Spaniard as an early replacement for Jolyon Palmer. However, Sainz is set to remain with Toro Rosso for the rest of the season after Renault was unable to end Palmer's contract early, with the Briton impressing by finishing sixth last time out in Singapore.

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With Sainz set to stay for the final six races, Red Bull was still keen to evaluate Gasly in the Toro Rosso and so has promoted the Frenchman from this weekend's race at Sepang. The team has confirmed Gasly takes over Kvyat's seat "for the next grands prix" but Super Formula commitments are expected to see Kvyat return for the United States GP at Circuit of The Americas.

Kvyat has scored just four of Toro Rosso's 52 points this season, crashing out in Singapore (pictured above) while Sainz finished fourth, and team principal Franz Tost admits the Russian's form played some part in the swap.

"Scuderia Toro Rosso was established by Red Bull to bring youngsters from its Junior Program into Formula 1 and thats what we are doing by giving Pierre this chance," Tost said. "He is the next in line at Red Bull for this opportunity and he has shown that he deserves it, having taken the 2016 GP2 title and this year being very competitive in the Super Formula series in Japan. He really has a valid chance of winning the title, as he is only half a point behind the leader.

"The driver switch gives us an opportunity to make a more informed decision regarding our 2018 driver choices.

"For a variety of reasons, some of them due to technical problems, but others being mistakes of his own making, Daniil Kvyat has not really shown his true potential so far this year, which is why we are standing him down for the next races. This will give us the opportunity to evaluate Pierre on track during a proper race weekend."

Gasly (pictured above) says he feels well prepared despite having to make his grand prix debut mid-season.

"I would like to thank everyone who has helped me get this chance in my motor racing career and specifically, Red Bull, Dr. Helmut Marko and Scuderia Toro Rosso," Gasly said. "This is a great opportunity for me.

"I feel as ready as I can be, having had to be prepared for anything in my role as Red Bull Racing's third driver this year. I will do my best to perform well with Scuderia Toro Rosso during these coming races."

The 21-year-old Gasly is currently challenging for the Super Formula championship title in Japan, with a second place at Sportsland SUGO last weekend leaving him just half a point behind championship leader Hiroaki Ishiura heading into the final double-header at Suzuka on Oct. 22 – the same weekend as the USGP.