Source: ITV
Alguersuari handed Toro Rosso drive
Jaime Alguersuari will become the youngest Formula 1 driver in history in Sunday s Hungarian Grand Prix after Toro Rosso confirmed the young Spaniard as Sebastien Bourdais replacement on Monday morning.The 19-year-old reigning British F3 champion had been expected to step up from his newly-held position as Red Bull s reserve driver from the Hungaroring for several weeks following intense speculation over Bourdais future.And after the Frenchman was officially dropped on Thursday, Alguersuari has now been given the nod to compete at the Hungaroring alongside fellow STR young gun Sebastien Buemi.The delighted Spaniard acknowledges he faces a tough F1 baptism coming in during the middle of the season without any testing, but feels he is in the right environment to learn the ropes quickly. I would like to thank Red Bull for giving me this great opportunity to race in Formula 1," Alguersuari said. "Ever since I started racing this has been my dream and thanks to the Red Bull Junior Programme I will now realise my ambition of lining up on a Grand Prix grid. ""I am aware that I m facing a very tough challenge, because coming into Formula 1 is never easy, coming into Formula 1 in the middle of a season is even harder and doing so without any testing is really difficult. "But already I feel that I am getting great support from the team, who have quite a reputation for looking after rookie drivers. STR team boss Franz Tost says Alguersuari was given the drive as he is currently the most mature driver on Red Bull's young driver books, adding that he expects it to take at least three races for the teenager to get fully up to speed. Red Bull s stated aim for Scuderia Toro Rosso is that, when possible, it should be used to provide a seat for products of its Young Driver Programme," he said."We therefore chose Alguersuari as the most mature driver currently in the programme. "I am well aware that over the next few months the team and Jaime will face a major challenge, especially because of the testing ban. "But Red Bull is always ready for a new challenge. I do not expect anything from him for at least his first three races, during which he has to get used to the car, the team and to the Formula 1 environment. Alguersuari who claimed the title of the youngest ever British F3 champion last year will succeed Mike Thackwell as F1 s youngest driver, the New Zealander having made his debut at 19 years, five months and 29 days in the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix.While Alguersuari was confirmed in the statement as simply the new STR driver, it remains to be seen whether he will compete in all of the season s remaining eight races.World Rally legend Sebastien Loeb has been heavily linked to a drive for the final round of the campaign in Abu Dhabi on November 1.Alguersuari s promotion also means that Red Bull will have change its reserve driver for both of its Formula 1 teams for the third time this season, after also using Brendon Hartley and David Coulthard.
