Christian Horner says Red Bull decided it was "too early to throw in the towel" on Daniil Kvyat's F1 career before confirming him to another year with Toro Rosso.
After a mixed first season with Red Bull last year, Kvyat has endured a tough 2016 campaign, which saw him demoted back to Toro Rosso in favour of Max Verstappen. His form nosedived afterwards, with the Russian reaching his lowest point ahead of the summer break.
That period was crucial for Kvyat to refocus his mind and his renewed form was rewarded with an extension during the U.S. Grand Prix weekend. Red Bull team boss Horner has backed the Russian to return to his best in 2017.
When asked about the contract extension, Horner said; "It is the right thing to do. Daniil had a tough year this year. He had a sensible year last year. His confidence took a dent, understandably, and he has worked on rebuilding himself and sort of got it together.
"At 21, 22, it is too early to throw in the towel on Daniil. It was the right decision to have given him another chance. You will see him turn it around."
Horner says he played a role in ensuring the Russian driver kept his place at Toro Rosso.
"I was consulted with, and I recommended that they keep him in the car."
With Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull, and Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz waiting in the wings, Horner suggested there is no quick route back to the senior team for the Russian driver.
"[Promotion to Red Bull] is not an option in the next couple of years because our seats are fixed. We believed it was our best option to leave him in that car."