Toro Rosso duo Alguersuari, Buemi not afraid of the test driver Daniel Ricciardo – Formula 1 news
Toro Rosso drivers Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastian Buemi have said that they will not be fazed by the inclusion of Daniel Ricciardo as a test driver in the team for the 2011 Formula 1 season.
Buemi said that the team will not be wise enough if they change the drivers’ line up halfway through the season.
The 21-year old Australian driver, Daniel Ricciardo, made his track debut in 2010 when he was hired by the champion team Red Bull team as a test driver and learned quite a bit of the RB6 car.
Jaime said about his inclusion to the team that, “I think it's very important for us that Daniel is in the car, as we have so many things which were not there last year. And he tested a very competitive car last year (with Red Bull), so it's very important
that he can compare both [cars].”
He further added that the inclusion of an extra hand will help develop the car and hopefully Toro Rosso will have a shot at the title.
The Toro Rosso duo Jaime and Buemi, have a contract until the mid of the 2011 season, so there is a chance that Daniel will jump up to take a seat of either of them. For now, Daniel’s duties will involve driving the double-floored car on the Fridays in the
practice sessions of every grand prix. Jaime said the contracts will be good if he is replaced as he would love to stay off the track.
Toro Rosso have come up with a very competitive car in which they have built a double floor under the side pods to improve the aerodynamic capacity of the car, which has forced many drivers to include them in the championship race.
Lewis Hamilton of McLaren Mercedes said that Toro Rosso are ‘ridiculously fast’ and Fernando Alonso of Ferrari said on Monday that Toro Rosso will be in the championship hunt.
As there are talks about Toro Rosso’s competitiveness this season, their drivers are concerned about their seats in the team.
Buemi said, “It's pretty difficult if you change the driver all the time. You lose time getting up to speed with them. Obviously the driver has to be good - you don't want to spend one or two years with a slow driver.”
The Toro Rosso duo has to work hard if they are to stay with the team or even on the track.
The final test session will start on Tuesday in Barcelona’s Catalunya track and after that, the teams will only wait until the season opens in Australia on March 27, 2011.
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