Toro Rosso Articles
Friday, January 22nd, 2010 - Posted by Jack Sargeant
19-year-old Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari will continue driving for the Toro Rosso team in 2010. Alguersuari has only 8 races experience in F1, from when he took over from Sebastien Bourdais in the latter half of last season.
Scuderia Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost said:
“Considering that he made his debut only halfway through 2009 with no prior testing, he did a good job, making steady progress throughout the second half of the year with a mature approach, considering he is still only 19 years old.
“This season, he will again face a steep learning curve as all the circuits in the first part of the season will be new to him. Jaime’s appointment also confirms our team’s commitment to bringing on graduates of the Red Bull Young Driver Programme.”
Tags: Jaime Alguersuari, Toro Rosso
Posted in News, Toro Rosso | No Comments »
Thursday, December 10th, 2009 - Posted by Jack Sargeant
Today it has been announced that all 13 Formula 1 teams who will compete in 2010 will have a joint car launch.
This cost-cutting initiative is likely to take place at the Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias complex in Valencia on January 30, and is backed by most teams.
Mercedes Chief Executive Nick Fry said;
“We’ve agreed among the teams to do a joint launch. It’s a demonstration of how we’re working together.”
The boss of the new team Lotus – Tony Fernandes said that the supposed launch on January 30 2010 is too soon for his team, who plan to roll out their car in February. He joked;
“I won’t have a car at that time. I could come with a Matchbox car.”
Tags: 2010, car launch, Lotus, Mercedes, Nick Fry., Tony Fernandes
Posted in Campos, Ferrari, Force India, Lotus F1, Manor GP, McLaren, Mercedes GP, Red Bull, Renault, Sauber, Toro Rosso, US F1, Williams | No Comments »
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 - Posted by Jack Sargeant
In the final day of young driver testing at the Jerez circuit in Spain, it was reigning British F3 champ Aussie Daniel Ricciardo in the Red Bull who set the quickest time – a 1.17.418s, despite having a premature end to the day.
The engine in Ricciardo’s Red Bull gave up the ghost after completing 77 laps.
The second quickest driver of the day was Scot Paul di Resta in the Force India, who’s morning session was cut short when his car came to a halt in the gravel at the chicane.
Third fastest in the McLaren was yesterday’s pacesetter Gary Paffett.
Times
01. Ricciardo Red Bull 1.17.418s 77 laps
02. Di Resta Force India 1.18.736s 53 laps
03. Paffett McLaren 1.18.746s 59 laps
04. Conway Brawn 1.19.096s 77 laps
05. Hulkenberg Williams 1.19.226s 106 laps
06. Baguette Sauber 1.19.356s 70 laps
07. Turvey McLaren 1.19.358s 32 laps
08. Ericsson Brawn 1.19.382s 49 laps
09. Di Grassi Renault 1.19.602s 123 laps
10. Hildebrand Force India 1.19.873s 41 laps
11. Sanchez Ferrari 1.21.147s 39 laps
12. Zampieri Ferrari 1.21.279s 42 laps
12. Zipoli Ferrari 1.21.725s 41 laps
13. Hartley Toro Rosso 1.22.493s 50 laps
15. Bortolotti Toro Rosso 1.23.271s 34 laps
16. Tung Renault 1.32.477s 4 laps
Tags: British F3, Daniel Ricciardo, Force India, Gary Paffett, Jerez, McLaren, Paul di Resta
Posted in BMW Sauber, Brawn GP, Ferrari, Force India, McLaren, News, Red Bull, Renault, Toro Rosso, Williams | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 - Posted by Jack Sargeant
Gary Paffett of McLaren topped the timesheets in today’s second young drivers test at Jerez, with the 2005 DTM champion and long-time McLaren test driver setting a fastest time of 01:18.718 in a day dogged by rain.
The Williams driver Nico Hulkenberg with a 2010 race seat for the team set a time of a 1:19.184 in his 94 laps to finish second fastest ahead of Daniel Ricciardo in the Red Bull.
Jules Bianchi could only manage 9th fastest with a 01:20.586 in his 113 laps for Ferrari, after announcing earlier he has signed a long-term contract with the team and will continue his race towards Formula One with a GP2 seat with the ART team in 2010.
The two Brawn GP drivers were almost inseperable – Mike Conway set a 01:20.222 and Marcus Ericsson a 01:20.440, despite the former completing 46 more laps than the Swede Ericsson.
The only driver who forced the red flags to come out was Mirko Bortolotti, when the Toro Rosso man stalled out on track. Bortolotti finished the session last, with his fastest time being a 01:21.761 in his 79 laps.
Times:
01 G. Paffett (McLaren) 01:18.718 80 laps
02 N. Hulkenberg (Williams) 01:19.184 94 laps
03 D. Ricciardo (Red Bull) 01:19.243 92 laps
04 P. di Resta (Force India) 01:19.411 58 laps
05 E. Gutierrez (BMW-Sauber) 01:20.190 68 laps
06 M. Conway (Brawn GP) 01:20.222 83 laps
07 M. Ericsson (Brawn GP) 01:20.440 37 laps
08 J.R. Hildebrand (Force India) 01:20.517 49 laps
09 J. Bianchi (Ferrari) 01:20.586 113 laps
10 L. Di Grassi (Renault) 01:20.898 67 laps
11 H. Tung (Renault) 01:21.492 57 laps
12 M. Bortolotti (Scuderia Toro Rosso) 01:21.761 79 laps
Tags: ART, Brawn GP, Daniel Ricciardo, DTM, Ferrari, Gary Paffett, GP2, Jerez, Jules Bianchi, Marcus Ericsson, McLaren, Mike Conway, Mirko Bortolotti, Nico Hulkenberg, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Williams
Posted in BMW Sauber, Brawn GP, Ferrari, Force India, McLaren, News, Red Bull, Renault, Toro Rosso, Williams | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 - Posted by Jack Sargeant
The young drivers test or ‘Kindergarten week’ as it was dubbed by Toro Rosso has today begun at the Jerez Circuit, Spain with 12 hot prospects all setting lap times at the circuit.
British F2 champ Spaniard Andy Soucek was the fastest driver in the 2009 Williams under the sunny skies at the circuit, where there was a track temperature of just 22′C. He clocked a 1:19.158 in his 87 laps.
However, it wasn’t all good for Soucek as twice he forced the red flags to come out, and brought the session to a temporary halt.
Scot Paul di Resta went second fastest in the Force India 0.211s off the pace, ahead of third place and former DTM champion Gary Paffett.
Toro Rosso’s Brendon Hartley finished last of the 12 after colliding with the barriers in the morning session.
Finishing 7th in the BMW Sauber was Alexander Rossi who’s quickest time was a 1:20.227. When speaking about his day he said;
“I very much enjoyed this day. It is impressive what the car does, how predictable and precise its reactions are, and how high the overall grip level is. But I have to admit I am also a little bit disappointed because being a racing driver you always want to be the fastest!
“I think in the afternoon we didn’t manage to find the perfect balance. Physically I have to say it was as demanding as I expected it would be. The power steering is a great help compared to GP2, but the g-forces obviously are higher.”
The Young Drivers testing runs until December 3rd.
Times
01 A. Soucek (Williams) 1:19.158 87 laps
02 P. Di Resta (Force India) 1:19.369 46 laps
03 G. Paffet (McLaren) 1:19.426 54 laps
04 D. Ricciardo (Red Bull) 1:19.534 113 laps
05 J. Bianchi (Ferrari) 1:19.626 91 laps
06 M. Conway (Brawn GP) 1:19.920 58 laps
07 A. Rossi (BMW-Sauber) 1:20.227 82 laps
08 M. Ericsson (Brawn GP) 1:20.333 50 laps
09 B. Baguette (Renault) 1:20.511 105 laps
10 J.R. Hildebrand (Force India) 1:20.537 49 laps
11 O. Turvey (McLaren) 1:20.856 27 laps
12 B. Hartley (Toro Rosso) 1:21.325 69 laps
Tags: Alexander Rossi, Andy Soucek, BMW Sauber, Brendon Hartley, DTM, F2, Force India, Gary Paffett, Jerez, Paul di Resta, Toro Rosso, Williams
Posted in BMW Sauber, Brawn GP, Ferrari, Force India, McLaren, News, Red Bull, Renault, Toro Rosso, Williams | No Comments »
Friday, November 27th, 2009 - Posted by Jack Sargeant
Jaime Alguersuari says he has signed a deal to keep him at Toro Rosso for next season. Alguersuari said;
“We signed a deal a few months ago.”
On the subject of next year’s hopes, he said;
“It would be seriously brilliant to be capable of points or podiums, seriously fantastic. But in all honesty is it is necessary to wait until February and to see how the new car performs. So we will see.”
It was announced earlier this month that Sebastien Buemi was to stay on for next season, so he will continue to partner Jaime Alguersuari.
Tags: Jaime Alguersuari, Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso
Posted in News, Toro Rosso | No Comments »
Thursday, November 12th, 2009 - Posted by Jack Sargeant
Italian Mirko Bortolotti will test for Toro Rosso next month. The 19-year-old, who finished fourth in this year’s Formula Two Championship, is a member of the Red Bull Junior programme and won the 2008 Italian F3 title.
Mirko Bortolotti has driven a Formula 1 car before, when he impressed testing for Ferrari in 2008.
Bortolotti will drive for Toro Rosso on the second day of the test running from December 1-3, with young New Zealander Brendon Hartley expected to be in the car on the other two days. Bortolotti said:
“I’m very happy and very proud. My target is to get to Formula One in the next few years so to be selected for this test is very important for my career.
“Of course, if I can get to F1 even sooner then that will be great, but first I must focus on Jerez.
“There are not many chances for young drivers to test an F1 car due to the regulations so I’m very excited and thankful to Red Bull for giving me this opportunity.
“Every mile counts, particularly with the current testing situation, so I will prepare myself well over the next few weeks and be ready to help the team carry out their programme.”
For the 2009 season, Hartley was appointed as official reserve driver for both the Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso teams, meaning he also has prior experience in an F1 car.
Toro Rosso already have half of their driver line-up sorted with Sebastien Buemi have secured a second consecutive drive, but whether other 2009 driver Jaime Alguersuari will stay with the team is a question unanswered.
Tags: Brendon Hartley, Ferrari, Jaime Alguersuari, Mirko Bortolotti, Red Bull, Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso
Posted in News, Toro Rosso | No Comments »
Monday, November 9th, 2009 - Posted by Jack Sargeant
Sebastien Buemi has confirmed he will stay put and drive for Toro Rosso in 2010. The 21 year old Swiss driver said:
“I had some contact with other teams due to my good results at the end of the season.
“Toyota could have been a possibility because they had not yet hired any drivers.
“That was not the only one, and anyway I was always talking with (Toro Rosso owner) Red Bull. Finally I signed with Toro Rosso for 2010.”
Buemi scored 6 championship points in his 2009 rookie season finishing 16th in the Drivers Championship.
It also seems that Jaime Alguersuari who drove for Toro Rosso in the last 7 races of the 2009 season is also going to stay with the Red Bull owned team, despite never scoring a championship point.
Alguersuari hinted:
“There will be six days of pre-season testing that, without a doubt, will give me a good base and we will then see the best Jaime.
“The start of the season will be hard because I don’t know the circuits. But at the end of the year I will be good, even better than Sebastien Buemi. This is my hope.”
When Sebastien Buemi was questioned as to whether the Spaniard Alguersuari was to carry on with the team he said:
“I assume that Jamie will team up with me next year. I think the team chose to change in the middle (of the season) because we can’t really do any testing so he may as well get used to the car now.”
Tags: 2009, 2010, Jaime Alguersuari, Red Bull, Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso
Posted in News, Red Bull, Rumour, Toro Rosso | 2 Comments »
Saturday, October 31st, 2009 - Posted by Jack Sargeant
Lewis Hamilton will line up alongside Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel for tomorrow’s inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit after setting an electrifying lap in Q3, more than 0.5secs faster than the rest of the field.
Hamilton set a 1:40.948 after the chequered flag had dropped in Q3 compared to Vettel’s 1:41.615. The fellow Red Bull driver Mark Webber will line up 3rd alongside Rubens Barrichello and World Champion Jenson Button will start 5th.
Hamilton’s teammate Heikki Kovalainen will start 13th, despite topping Friday Practice 2, although this is because he suffered a brake problem in Q2.
Elsewhere it was a reasonably impressive qualifying session in BMW Sauber’s last ever Grand Prix with Kubica and Heidfeld making it an all BMW 4th row. They qualified 7th and 8th respectively.
Ferrari had another nightmare with Giancarlo Fisichella in particular, who will start last on the grid and Kimi Raikkonen who will start an average 11th on the grid.
It was a disappointing session for Renault as both of their drivers failed to get through Q1. In twice former world champion Fernando Alonso’s final qualifying for Renault he qualified 16th. His teammate Romain Grosjean will start 19th.
The full classification is below.
(more…)
Tags: Abu Dhabi, BMW Sauber, Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Giancarlo Fisichella, Heikki Kovalainen, Jenson Button, Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton, Nick Heidfeld, Red Bull, Renault, Robert Kubica, Romain Grosjean, Rubens Barrichello, Sebastian Vettel, Yas Marina
Posted in BMW Sauber, Brawn GP, Ferrari, Force India, McLaren, News, Red Bull, Renault, Toro Rosso, Toyota, Williams | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 - Posted by Formula1Blogger
With the 2009 Formula 1 season drawing to a close, there is the inevitable departures of drivers, team members, and in some cases – whole teams that needs to take place. Some will get reshuffled into new teams, some will go altogether, and some new blood will enter the paddock. Here’s a brief rundown of the F1 goodbyes in 2009.
Kimi Raikkonen & Fernando Alonso
After 3 years with Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen is being replaced by Fernando Alonso. Raikkonen is yet to sign a deal with a new team for 2010, however he has been linked with a drive at McLaren and Toyota, the former being the most likely slot.
Raikkonen won the drivers world championship with the team in his debut year, as well as the constructers in 2007 and 2008.
There is also an outside chance the Raikkonen will leave the sport altogether. He has frequently mentioned when interviewed that if the right race seat doesn’t become available he will leave Formula 1 for good. We don’t think he’s bluffing…
Fernando Alonso also leaves his Renault team for the second time in his F1 career. With the team in disarray, Pat Symonds and Flavio Briatore also gone, it makes complete sense that Alonso would want to move away. That said, there are some whispers that the Ferrari deal has been in place since last year, however it couldn’t be made then for whatever reasons.
Tags: BMW Sauber, Fernando Alonso, Flavio Briatore, Giancarlo Fisichella, Heikki Kovalainen, Jarno Trulli, Kazuki Nakajima, Kimi Raikkonen, Nelson Piquet Jr, Nick Heidfeld, Pat Symonds, Robert Kubica, Ron Dennis, Rubens Barrichello, Sebastien Bourdais
Posted in BMW Sauber, Brawn GP, Ferrari, Force India, McLaren, Renault, Toro Rosso, Toyota, Williams | 1 Comment »
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