Sebastian Buemi - Scuderia Toro Rosso

The Toro Rosso team drivers are to remain the same for the 2011 season with both Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi keeping their posts.

After confirming the news team boss Franz Tost said;

“I believe our drivers will be well prepared for 2011, which is why they are both confirmed for next year.   It is also logical, because one key role of Scuderia Toro Rosso is to bring on young drivers from the Red Bull Young Driver programme and at the ages of 21 and 20 respectively, both Seb and Jaime certainly still meet the right criteria.

Our drivers still lack F1 experience compared to the majority of their colleagues. Therefore, as they get more track time with every race, I expect to see an improvement in the final half of the season. This is particularly relevant to Alguersuari, because from Hungary onwards, he will be able to rely on the knowledge he picked up after making his debut there in 2009, knowing all the remaining tracks, with the exception of Korea. It is not just a case of their driving getting better, because it is also true that their understanding and engineering feedback improves, which is vital if we are to get the most out of our package.”

Sebastien Buemi - Formula 3 Euro Series 2006

It was confirmed on Friday that Sebastien Buemi will be one of the drivers for the Toro Rosso team this season after admitting that he signed the contract three-weeks-ago.

Buemi has had the backing of the Red Bull team for most of his career and has gained valuable mileage in Formula One as their test and reserve driver.  Last year he competed in GP2, where he finished the season in sixth position for Arden International.

The 20-year-old, Swiss driver secured his seat after testing the car several times over the winter season and team boss Franz Tost said,

“We are delighted to welcome Sebastien, who was already part of the Red Bull family, to our team.  Our engineers have been impressed with his speed in the car and his ability to learn and progress during the testing he has carried out for us last year.

That, along with some impressive performances in GP2 was enough to convince us to give him the drive.  His appointment also fulfils the aims of the Red Bull Junior Driver Programme and meets Dietrich Mateschitz’s intention to use Scuderia Toro Rosso as a showcase for young drivers the company has supported in the lower formulae.”

Buemi said,

“I am naturally very happy to be driving Scuderia Toro Rosso this year.  Being a Formula One driver has always been my target, since I first started racing.

This year, I will do all I can to bring home the best possible results and to show Red Bull that the confidence it has shown in me is justified.  I want to thank Red Bull for this opportunity and for all the help they have given me in my career, dating back to 2005.”