Franz Tost: Toro Rosso evaluating drivers’ performance for their future in team – Formula 1 news
According to Toro Rosso’s team principal Franz Tost, the team is now evaluating its drivers’ performance in order to make a decision regarding their respective futures.
“They are moving forward. That was clearly visible in the last couple of races, with the last race seeing both of them in the points - so let's wait and see how the second half of the season works out. Then at the end of the year we will sit together
with Red Bull to discuss who will sit in our cars in 2012,” he said.
Both Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari are pretty much on an even keel at the moment in terms of performance and one has to admit that Toro Rosso are performing really well this year.
Their performance has improved a lot and now they are more consistent and reliable. The team is currently in 8th place in the constructors’ standings with 22 points and they are just 4 points short of Force India.
Other than that, there are rumours that in case Mark Webber retires from the sport or leaves Red Bull Racing, then they would be looking forward to sign one of the Toro Rosso drivers mainly as Toro Rosso is Red Bull’s junior team.
However, Tost clams that there is a ‘timeframe’ for the Toro Rosso drivers to prove themselves and that is a maximum of 3 years.
“Maximum three years. Or let's put it this way: if you are not sure after three years whether he's going to make it, I would bluntly say forget him, period. Three years - why? Because this is the time a driver needs today in Formula One to develop
from a rookie into a calculable factor in the team,” said Tost.
Daniel Ricciardo is another ‘competitor’ for a race seat at Red Bull Racing but since Webber is expected to stay at the team at least until the end of 2012, talking about RBR’s decision after 2012 at this point is quite pointless because things would
change completely for all the teams and drivers.
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