After Bruno Senna rubbished the rumour that he has already signed for Scuderia Toro Rosso for 2009, the Austro/Italian team have stated that they will be evaluating Red Bull test driver Sébastien Buemi at the Jerez test in September. Sébastien was announced as Red Bull’s test driver for this season back in January, and although the testing limits have meant the Swiss driver has seen little serious action in the car, Buemi has been busy doing PR stunts for the team as well as competing in the GP2 series.
We are going to test him [Buemi] at Jerez. It is an evaluation for next year. The ideal situation would be a young driver and an experienced one. We are putting everyone on the list who is free, but there is no clear opinion at this stage. We will take our time. Gerhard Berger.
Buemi isn’t the only driver being suggested for the Scuderia Toro Rosso seat, and their may even be two to fill. Sebastian Vettel has already signed a contract for parent team Red Bull Racing, and unless Sebastien Bourdais improves his form in the next few races (which he has already started to do given his Valencia result), he too may be shown the door. On the cards are Bruno Senna (the rumour refuses to die), Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson. Davidson is desperate to get back into a Formula One car and deserves a chance to race in my opinion, and Sato would help Red Bull crack the Japanese market with their energy drink, as well having someone who is experienced.
So does this mean that Toro Rosso are no longer at risk of dropping out of F1?
Just what F1 (and STR) need – another Seb!
I think Buemi will be recruited in 2009, compared with Bourdais, and whichever does worst will be replaced by Senna mid-season (after Bruno has done a few more GP2 races to garner more experience).
Good question Stephen. I think STR will find a buyer/partner. They are doing well at the moment results-wise, and although that will almost certainly disappear as of 2010 onwards (having to build own chassis etc…), I think they’ll still be around for a little while.
@Craig: Totally agree – and what’s with the attraction to Red Bull? I can’t cope with all the æ’s at moment. I actually went to Buemi’s wikipedia article and copy/pasted his name over, which explains the added accent in this post.
@Ali: That’s probably the most likely scenario, but Berger does want (and need) some experience. Especially from 2010 onwards when they have to develop their own car.
Oliver, I think STR may be hoping to catch the low-hanging fruit in 2010, because it looks like there is going to be a big re-shuffle then (Alonso-Ferrari? Kubica-elsewhere? Rosberg-McLaren? Raikkonen/Massa-who-knows-where?) and someone’s bound to lose out who doesn’t want to. This year’s reshuffle looks pretty modest though, so I can’t see STR having the option of experience next year.
How STR reconciles its requirement for experience, its desire for Bruno Senna and whatever expectations Senna’s team-mate may have will be intruiging to watch.
[…] team have expressed a wish for an experienced driver to be partnered with a young driver or rookie, hinting at Sebastien Buemi to get a promotion, and possibly retaining Sebastien Bourdais, extending Rubens Barrichello’s career or hiring […]