Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire - Red Bull has dumped Daniil Kvyat for the rest of the Formula One season and replaced him with teenage sensation Max Verstappen.
The dramatic demotion comes four days after Kvyat crashed into Sebastien Vettel's Ferrari twice in front of his home fans at Sochi. As punishment, Kvyat will now drop down to Verstappen's seat in Red Bull's junior team Toro Rosso.
Team principal Christian Horner said on Thursday: “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.”
Verstappen will join Daniel Ricciardo in the Red Bull garage for the remaining 17 races of the season, while Kvyat returns to Toro Rosso after being promoted to replace Vettel, who won four world championships with Red Bull, in 2015.
Horner said: “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.”
Also read: Kvyat collisions dump Vettel out of GP
Kvyat was in the Red Bull doghouse after his antics in Sunday's Russian Grand Prix triggered carnage on the first lap. For the second consecutive race Vettel was left fuming by his impetuous aggression.
Kvyat ran in to the back of Vettel at Turn Two and then as the pair recovered they clashed again at Turn Three, the violence of the crash sending Vettel spinning into the barriers and out of the race.
The Ferrari ace was so angry that his broadcast comments, via Ferrari team radio, were punctuated by a succession of 'bleeps' as he swore about the incident.
The clash came just two weeks after Vettel had accused Kvyat of diving “like a torpedo” into his car at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Kvyat cut a contrite figure in the aftermath of Sochi, admitting: “All the mess came from me. It doesn't feel great, but sometimes this happens in F1. Usually I learn from it.
“I apologise to everybody who was involved. I think we all need to talk. It's easy to attack me and I guess everyone will and I'm OK with that....”
Also read: Vettel has a good moan at Kvyat
Red Bull's motorsport advisor Austrian Helmut Marko, the hard-headed consultant who oversees the team for Red Bull owner Dieter Mateschitz, made clear his displeasure.
“Let's put it this way,” he said. “Kvyat was over-motivated. Braking too late once and hitting another car would be acceptable in front of his home crowd, but this doesn't apply for the second crash.
“It's a pity because he not only ruined Vettel's race - and Ricciardo's race - but also his own. He had to make an extra stop. It was a day of disaster for Red Bull.”
For Verstappen his elevation to Red Bull comes after a superb rookie season in 2015 when at 17 years old he became the youngest driver in the history of F1.
The son of Jos Verstappen, a team-mate of Michael Schumacher at Benetton in 1994, finished 12th in the world championship with 49 points.
His achievements were marked at December's International Automobile Federation awards ceremony when he stole the limelight from Lewis Hamilton, collecting the 'Personality of the Year', 'Rookie of the Year' and 'Action of the Year' awards.