Marko says Kvyat moved out of "firing line"

It was confirmed on Thursday that the Russian will switch to Red Bull's junior squad from the Spanish Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen taking his seat at Red Bull alongside Ricciardo.

Although the move has been seen as a demotion for Kvyat after his crashes in the Russian Grand Prix, Marko insists that it is actually aimed at helping his career.

Marko said Kvyat was struggling with the pressure from teammate Ricciardo.

"The decision came only after Russia," Marko told Autobild. "It has emerged more and more that Daniil was no match to the pressure from Daniel Ricciardo and was constantly overdriving the car.

"We wanted to take him out of the firing line and help his career instead of harming it.

"Kvyat has seen both halves. I do not see this as a demotion. The Toro Rosso is at a very good level this year."

Marko reckons Verstappen will not have it easy against Ricciardo either.

He also suggested that Red Bull's line-ups are set to change again at the end of the year, and said Carlos Sainz still has a chance of moving up to Red Bull.

"Max will have to match Daniel Ricciardo now, which won't be easy," he said. "Daniel is extremely solid at the moment.

"At the end of the year the cars will be reshuffled again. It also means that Carlos Sainz has a chance to move up."