Jean-Eric Vergne not expecting a Red Bull elevation through Toro Rosso – Formula 1 news
Jean-Eric Vergne says he is not considering the 2012 season to be an audition for a Red Bull seat between himself and his team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.
Toro Rosso replaced Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi with Vergne and Ricciardo. The replacements were initially made as way to give exposure to new and younger drivers. Toro Rosso stated that the concept of the team is to make sure young drivers are
blooded into Formula 1 and that is why both of their drivers have been replaced.
Later it was revealed that the team was not happy with the performances of their drivers. Still Buemi found a role of a third driver with Red Bull. Ricciardo found a spot with Force India.
It would be natural to assume promotion to Red Bull as Sebastian Vettel was also elevated from Toro Rosso to Red Bull.
Vergne though says that it is not something that he is thinking about at this point.
“Some people will tell you that we are in a fight for the Red Bull cockpit, but I don't see that right now,” Vergne told the official Formula One website. “I am racing for Toro Rosso and I want to help make the car a points contender. I have no interest
finishing in P15 ahead of him. I'd rather finish in P4 behind him if that meant I had a quicker car. Did I just say finish behind him? No, I don't think that I would like this! (Laughs) Only the part about fighting at the front is true. Forget about the rest.”
He was asked whether he has been satisfied with the results of the season, he said that a bit of both. He explained that while it has been fairly good he could have done much better.
Vergne added that he can use the rookie card for an excuse but he does not want to, a mistake is a mistake and he wants to learn from them and move forward as a better driver.
It will be interesting to see how Vergne performs as the season progresses to the European leg of the tour.
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