Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner defends young driver programme – Formula 1 news
Christian Horner has defended the young driver programme after some criticism was thrown by former drivers and analysts.
Toro Rosso drivers Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi were the two drivers to lose out on their seats. The duo showed good form in the season as they drove impressively.
Red Bull maintained that the duo was not dropped over performance issues but to promote the young driver programme. Both drivers showed shock and surprise over the announcement but maintained that while they did not expect to be dropped, they respect the
decision. Alguersuari mentioned that he did not have any issues over Red Bull’s decision as he too came through the young driver programme.
The duo was replaced by Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo. Buemi has since found the reserve and test driver role with Red Bull for the 2012 season with aspirations of winning a race seat with Red Bull for 2013.
Helmut Marko stated that Alguersuari and Buemi were dropped after the team analysed the three seasons they had with the team and the conclusion is that they are not winners.
“Red Bull has invested a huge amount in youth and should be commended,” Horner said. “It worked for Sebastian Vettel and provided a genuine opportunity for the talents of Ricciardo and Vergne.”
“Both Buemi and Alguersuari had the support of Red Bull to enter F1 and had been supported in Buemi's case for three seasons and in Alguersuari's two and a half seasons, and during that time it enables you to form a picture of how the guys are developing,”
he added.
Horner said that Red Bull does not get enough credit for what it is doing for the sake of bringing in young talent. While he said that he had given enough time to Alguersuari and Buemi to prove themselves, Red Bull’s decision to give Buemi the reserve role
goes against what Helmut Marko said.
It will be interesting to see how Buemi progresses from this position as Mark Webber’s contract ends after the 2012 season.
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