Kvyat, 22, traded places with Max Verstappen last month with
the 18-year-old Dutchman going on to become the sport's youngest
ever race winner with victory on his team debut at the Spanish
Grand Prix.
"We've lost a super talented driver in Max but we got back
another driver who is able to perform for us. He will score a
lot of points for us," Tost told the official formula1.com
website at the Canadian Grand Prix on Saturday.
"At the beginning he was not in the best condition as you can
imagine, but we had meetings together, had dinner a couple of
times, and I think he has his mental strength back," added the
Austrian.
"In one or two races he has overcome all that and is focused on
his new job... obstacles are there to overcome and he will do
that."
Tost could not say whether Kvyat and Spaniard Carlos Sainz, the
team's other driver, would be staying with the team next season
since that decision would be made by Red Bull.
He said, however, that he would be happy to retain the current
line-up.
"I would not mind keeping what we have. But should one of the
two prefer to leave there is only one other option -- Pierre
Gasly," he added. "All the other drivers are too young and
inexperienced."
French racer Gasly, 20, is Red Bull's reserve while also
competing in the GP2 support series.
Tost looked forward to 2017 rule changes allowing more synergy
with Red Bull Racing on parts and design, along with the switch
back to the same Renault engine use by the former champions.
Toro Rosso are currently using a 2015 Ferrari power unit, but
Tost said the car and drivers were good enough to compensate for
the lack of engine development over the season.
"My hope is that we will frequently finish in the top 10 also in
the second part of the season," he said, targeting fifth place
overall.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Sudipto Ganguly)
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