It is too early to name a frontrunner for a seat at Red Bull’s premier team.

That is the claim of Franz Tost, the boss of the energy drink company’s junior team Toro Rosso.

Following the ousting of Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi, the Faenza based outfit has two new Red Bull youngsters to groom in 2012.

Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne are therefore at the front of the queue to potentially replace Mark Webber at the senior team, even though Red Bull chiefs have appeared to indicate that Australian Webber is staying put for now.

So when asked by Austria’s Laola1 whether Ricciardo or Vergne are winning the race to Red Bull Racing so far, Tost insisted: “We have no thoughts about that.

“The important thing is that they continue to develop in every area.”

So far, Frenchman Vergne has four points compared with Ricciardo’s two.

“Jean-Eric is willing to take more risks,” Tost admitted, “while Daniel has a grasp of the car overall with his extra experience.”

There are still some “gentlemen” in F1, team boss and owner Peter Sauber insists.

Amid the recent F-duct debate, it was suggested that Mercedes’ Ross Brawn had broken a teams’ ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ that the technology should not be pursued.

“I think you need gentlemen in formula one for this” Sport Bild reporter Ralf Bach jibed sarcastically during a news conference recently.

But Sauber, arguably one of the few gentlemen in the paddock, told Sonntagsblick that he still has some peers.

Asked if he was privately congratulated after Sergio Perez’s second place in Malaysia recently, the Swiss said: “Martin Whitmarsh, of McLaren, offered me a very nice congratulation.

“Franz Tost (Toro Rosso) wrote me a lovely text. And then Domenicali and the people at Ferrari; we have a very friendly relationship,” added Sauber.

As for whether there are many other gentlemen in F1, he insisted: “In this business, you don’t really ask this question.

“I didn’t know Colin Chapman. Ken Tyrrell was someone who appealed to me greatly, but he didn’t take us (Sauber) seriously. It was the same with Frank Williams.”

Indeed, in the paddock, scepticism and cynicism are more widespread, which explains why Sauber’s 2012 car – although fast throughout winter testing – was not regarded as a serious threat until mere days ago.

“We knew our car was good after the tests in Jerez and Barcelona. But the others just thought that we were running light, which is common when a team from the midfield shows something,” said Sauber.

Also amusing, according to Peter Sauber, is the story of Sergio Perez.

“A year ago it was said he just paid for his cockpit. So it makes me chuckle now when I see them say he is going to Ferrari,” he smiled.

 Sebastien Buemi has revealed surprise and disappointment with Toro Rosso’s reaction, after the Italian team performed a clean sweep of its driver lineup for 2012.
The Swiss and his teammate Jaime Alguersuari were given their marching orders just before Christmas, leaving the aforementioned Spaniard without a role this season.

Buemi has at least kept his F1 career alive with the Red Bull reserve role, but the 23-year-old has expressed disappointment with comments made recently by his former team boss Franz Tost.

“Of course I would prefer to race for myself,” he told the Blick newspaper, “but maybe this new role is the opportunity of my life.”

At the same time, he takes issue with Austrian Tost, who is appointed to head Red Bull’s rookie team Toro Rosso.

He said recently: “We are talking about a double world championship-winning team (Red Bull), which means that drivers who get elevated there must have the ability to win races and championships.

“And it was from that perspective that second thoughts set in when it came to Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari,” said Tost.

Buemi responded: “After we were put out, Alguersuari and I said not a single bad word about Toro Rosso, we were always loyal.

“So I am amazed that from the boss there comes suddenly such negative comments.”

 Toro Rosso’s new drivers look set to be given longer than just a single season to prove they can step up to the senior Red Bull team.
Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne have replaced the Faenza based team’s 2011 lineup and are tipped as likely contenders to oust the Australian veteran Mark Webber at Red Bull Racing next year.

But Franz Tost, Toro Rosso’s team principal, said a 2013 promotion for either Ricciardo or Vergne is unlikely.

“I have no idea. But I doubt it, as the level of Red Bull Racing is extremely high,” he told F1′s official website.

“So my guess is that they will have to wait a little more. So far Mark has not given any hint that he is thinking of retirement.”

Tost said Red Bull will only be looking for a driver with the ‘wow-effect’ to replace Webber, so 2013 could be too soon for Australian Ricciardo, or the French rookie Vergne.

“In general I would say that this wow-effect is not so easily manageable in a first season,” said the Austrian. “But it definitely has to be delivered in the second season.

“I don’t have a problem when a driver has a good race and at the next race he has a shunt — that’s part of the game. Both drivers will have a ‘crash period’ but that is part of their development phase,” he insisted.

“It was the same with Sebastian Vettel. But at some point they have to get their game together — and the question is who will be better at doing that? Let’s wait and see.”

Toro Rosso counts Caterham – the 2010 start-up team that has failed to score a single point since inception – among its close rivals for 2012.
Last season, the Red Bull-owned rookie team Toro Rosso finished the championship in eighth place with 41 points, well clear of Williams and behind Sauber and Force India.

“Our direct competitors are Sauber, Force India and Caterham,” the Faenza based team’s boss Franz Tost is quoted by autohebdo.fr.

Formerly Lotus, the Tony Fernandes-led Caterham team has been the best of the new 2010 teams including Marussia (nee Virgin) and HRT.

“Caterham has managed to build a good infrastructure,” Tost is quoted as saying.

“They have the Renault engine and a KERS from Red Bull and it means their package is good.

“They have two experienced drivers and I expect they will become our rivals.

“Our goal is to take seventh place in the championship — we must do better than last year,” added Tost.

 Amid the European cold snap, Franz Tost admits he was worried Toro Rosso might be late for its own car launch.
The STR7 was unveiled on Monday in the Jerez pitlane, a day ahead of its testing debut.

“When the trucks left Faenza on Saturday night I was worried we would not arrive in time,” La Gazzetta dello Sport quotes the relieved team boss as saying.

Ultimately, it turned out well, although Daniel Ricciardo – one of Toro Rosso’s new Red Bull-backed rookies – was not overly impressed with the car’s looks.

“It’s not exactly beautiful,” said the Australian, referring to the now notorious ‘stepped’ noses on the 2012 cars, “but I’d rather have a quick car than a pretty one.”

Actually, designer Giorgio Ascanelli is worried the STR7′s nose might not be ugly enough.

“I think we could have made it more aggressive,” said the Italian, “but in the end we had to homologate the car before we could test it.”

Arguably more ugly is the nose on Sauber’s new C31, but Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi isn’t so sure.

“You think it’s ugly?” he told reporters at Jerez. “If everybody has the same style of car then it’s not ugly. Only the McLaren is different, so we will see.”

On McLaren, Kobayashi might have a point.

Of the eight 2012 cars seen so far, all of them have a ‘step’ except the McLaren. And Pedro de la Rosa has hinted that the new HRT will also feature the unattractive solution.

“Like almost everyone one else we have had the idea to have as much area under the car as possible. The regulations force us to do what we have done,” Sauber designer Matt Morris is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

Said Telegraph correspondent Tom Cary: “It begs the question — have McLaren got it wrong?

“Were they ‘sandbagging’ – faking – at last week’s launch? Have they got it right and everyone else got it wrong?”

McLaren’s technical director Paddy Lowe is confident: “We have always had a different philosophy than the others for the front of the car,” he is quoted by Blick newspaper.

Two 2012 cars with ‘step’ noses – Lotus and Sauber – made their track debuts on Monday, ahead of official testing which begins on Tuesday.

Lotus’ technical boss James Allison thinks the E20 is the “most beautiful ugly car” seen so far.

“It feels great in first and second gear,” smiled Kimi Raikkonen, referring to the running for ‘filming purposes’.

Agreed Sauber’s Kobayashi: “I obviously can’t make serious judgements on the car because we had just a promotional day and were running only demo tyres.”

The new Williams will be seen for the first time on Tuesday.

 Sebastien Buemi has joined his axed teammate Jaime Alguersuari in admitting this week’s news from Red Bull was a nasty shock.
Le Matin newspaper said Swiss Buemi, 23, missed the mobile phone calls from bosses Franz Tost and Dr Helmut Marko earlier this week because he was driving the Barcelona track in the Red Bull simulator, and visiting Toro Rosso’s UK wind tunnel.

“I was shocked,” he admitted. “I had been told a decision would be made before the end of the year, but I was under the impression that my contract would be extended.

“I was not expecting it at all.”

Buemi, 23, told Blick newspaper: “I have to accept it even if it is very hard to understand.”

His options appear limited, with interviewer Roger Benoit pointing out that the vacancies – at Williams and HRT – are likely to be filled by drivers with millions in sponsor backing.

“There are drivers that are signed not only for the money,” Buemi insisted.

Blick asked Buemi if a third driver role is also a possibility.

“Maybe there are options,” he admitted, “but it’s still too early to say anything.

“Fortunately in the past years I have built up many contacts with most of the teams. So this pays off now.”

Buemi was asked if he has called his Swiss compatriot, Peter Sauber.

“No, but I will. Just like that,” said the veteran of 55 races, who promptly asked the well-connected Blick journalist Roger Benoit for the phone number.

Jaime Alguersuari has admitted surprise at Red Bull’s decision to oust him from the Toro Rosso team.
In recent days, the 21-year-old Spaniard has sounded confident about keeping his seat with the Faenza based team.

Alguersuari admitted the news was therefore “very surprising and unexpected”.

“Just a week ago after karting in Brazil I talked with Helmut Marko and Franz Tost and they told me they had plans for me in 2012,” he revealed.

“They did so with enthusiasm and showed a lot of confidence in me.

“So after talking with them (now), I thought of three things: first, I will not judge the situation because it seems crazy that after debuting at 19 years old without ever doing a lap in F1 before, today’s news seems to be a major misunderstanding in the best moment of my sporting life.

“I will not judge the decision because since 15 years old Red Bull gave me everything.

“Second, I am not a victim because for seven years I have enjoyed the privilege because of them. And third, there is no drama, because I have many plans for the present and the future.

“The surprise lasted for a couple of hours but I have talked to my family and realised that life is full of opportunities and challenges.”

Already, speculation has begun that Alguersuari could switch places with Daniel Ricciardo at HRT, where in 2011 Red Bull had a driver deal in place with the Spanish team.

The move would also give HRT an all-Spanish lineup, following Pedro de la Rosa’s recent signing.

Alguersuari’s Swiss teammate in 2011, Sebastien Buemi, has a much more uncertain future.

The 23-year-old is yet to comment, but his close media confidant Roger Benoit – the veteran Blick newspaper correspondent – said Buemi “has no plan B”.

“Without millions of dollars in sponsors there is not even a back-of-the-grid team with a vacancy for him,” he said.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport speculated that Red Bull might appoint either Alguersuari or Buemi as the championship-winning team’s 2012 reserve driver.

The report said the duo might struggle to find a seat elsewhere in F1 because of the “Red Bull stamp on their foreheads”.

Red Bull has stunned the formula one world by ousting existing drivers Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi and installing an all-new lineup for its second team Toro Rosso.
The Faenza based team announced that its new drivers are Australian Daniel Ricciardo (22) and Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne (21).

“It will be the first time since the team’s 2006 debut that it will begin the year with an all new lineup,” the statement read.

Ricciardo made his grand prix debut mid-season with HRT, thanks to a deal between the struggling team and Red Bull.

Vergne, meanwhile, impressed at the wheel of the championship-winning RB7 during last month’s young driver test in Abu Dhabi, and he also practiced on Fridays late this season.

“I must thank Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari for all their hard work over the past three seasons,” said team boss Franz Tost. “They have delivered some excellent performances which have helped the team move forward and develop.

“However, one has to remember that when Scuderia Toro Rosso was established in 2005, it was done so with the intention of providing a first step into formula one for the youngsters in the Red Bull junior driver programme.

“It is therefore part of the team’s culture to change its driver lineup from time to time in order to achieve this goal,” added Tost.

 The bosses of three top formula one teams agree that Jaime Alguersuari has done enough to secure his place on the grid for next season.
The Spaniard, along with his Toro Rosso teammate Sebastien Buemi, are at risk of losing their race seats for the 2012 season to Red Bull’s latest young chargers Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.

But McLaren’s Whitmarsh thinks Alguersuari, 21, is now an established driver.

“He is no longer a rookie or a question-mark, he is now a driver with full credibility,” the Briton is quoted by Spain’s TV3 television.

Whitmarsh added that Alguersuari’s 2011 season – his second full season in formula one – has been “very good overall” even though he is “still developing, but that’s normal”.

Ferrari’s Stefano Domenicali agrees.

“I think he has done some good races and has been instrumental in the development of the car,” the Italian said. “He will only get more experience with some more patience, but he has a very good potential.”

And Mercedes’ Ross Brawn, whose career has been closely linked with Michael Schumacher’s success, said of Alguersuari: “He unquestionably deserves a place in formula one.

“I have been impressed even though it is quite difficult to judge a driver who has only been with one team,” he cautioned.

Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost has revealed he had no argument when Red Bull poached Sebastian Vettel after the 2008 season.
Vettel, then in his very early 20s, showed immense potential at Red Bull’s Faenza based junior team in 2007 and 2008 before he moved to the parent squad for 2009.

In 2010 and 2011, he won back-to-back world championships, but Toro Rosso’s Tost has no bitterness at the thought that with Vettel on board, the former Minardi team might have been pulled up the grid.

“It (keeping Vettel) was never an issue even for one second,” the Austrian told Sportwoche magazine.

“In that situation, Vettel would not have been allowed to stay with us. It probably would never have been even considered,” added Tost.

He conceded that a large part of Vettel’s success at Toro Rosso in 2008 was due to Red Bull.

“We are ultimately about the future of the drivers and in 2008 we were using the car from Red Bull Technology, designed by Adrian Newey,” added Tost.

And when Vettel left Toro Rosso for Red Bull, Tost said he was sure it would be a formidable alliance.

“It was clear to me that that combination – Red Bull, Vettel and Newey – would be dominating sooner or later,” he said. “In fact they would have taken the title already in 2009 if it wasn’t for the double diffuser story with Brawn.”

But even though he sees Vettel’s departure as inevitable, Tost said he is not happy to simply look back on 2008 as Toro Rosso’s finest hour.

“No, it should be repeated,” he answered confidently. “As often as possible.”

Toro Rosso will not select from outside of Red Bull’s own talent pool for its 2012 driver lineup, team boss Franz Tost has confirmed.
It is believed Sebastien Buemi, Jaime Alguersuari, and young Red Bull hopefuls Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne, are all in the running for the Faenza based team’s two race seats next year.

“It is 100 per cent certain that next year we will have two Red Bull drivers,” Austrian Tost told the Sportwoche publication.

“That is the meaning and the purpose of why Red Bull bought the team,” he added.

“Our job is to allow young drivers from the Red Bull pool to enter formula one in training for (the move to) Red Bull Racing,” said Tost.

Since the Minardi takeover in 2006, however, the only driver to successfully move from Toro Rosso to the premier team is Sebastian Vettel.

“The reasons for that are simple,” said Tost. “First, he is more talented than the others.

“He is also more disciplined, brings more passion for the sport, is more innovative, open and more flexible in accepting suggestions to make himself better. And that’s why he’s the world champion,” he added.

“In their development too many drivers get to formula one and think ‘Now I have made it’. Actually, the hard work has only just begun. Everything before is kindergarten.

“In formula one you have to live formula one, 100 per cent, yet only a few do that completely,” said Tost.

The rookie lineup for next month’s young driver test in Abu Dhabi is taking shape.
Some brand new names are in the mix, according to Italy’s Autosprint magazine.

One is the 22-year-old Monegasque driver Stefano Coletti, who has reportedly secured one of the seats that according to speculation has been sold by Toro Rosso.

Team boss Franz Tost is reportedly also in talks with Italian teenager Kevin Ceccon.

Another teenager, 18-year-old Estonian Kevin Korjus, will apparently run with Renault, as will the German DTM driver Christian Vietoris.

It was believed Frenchman Charles Pic was in talks with Toro Rosso, but the GP2 star will reportedly run at Yas Marina with Force India.

A Frenchman may have moved into pole position for a Virgin race seat in 2012.
Reporting that Jerome d’Ambrosio’s seat is in danger, the Belgian newspaper De Morgen this month said Charles Pic, fourth in this year’s GP2 series, has “more money” from his sponsors to spend next year.

Pic, 21, is also in talks with Toro Rosso about next month’s Abu Dhabi young driver test, team boss Franz Tost revealed last week.

But it was in the column of French commentator Jean-Louis Moncet that Pic’s links with 1996 Monaco winner Olivier Panis were revealed.

Pic is working with “his mentor” Panis through the Lagardere management outfit, and Moncet reveals that officials made a “very important working visit” to Suzuka recently.

“The Virgin team could soon announce the arrival of Charles Pic as a race driver for 2012,” said Moncet in his Auto Plus blog.

Paul di Resta’s formula one career almost got off to a flying start a few years ago.
Actually, the 25-year-old Scot is only a rookie in 2011, and hoping to be given the green light to stay with Force India next season.

His career however seemed on a fast track at the end of 2006, when he beat his teammate Sebastian Vettel to the coveted F3 Euroseries title.

It was then that di Resta caught the attention of former Toro Rosso co-owner Gerhard Berger.

“Franz Tost and I considered signing him years ago,” the Austrian great revealed to Sportmagazin. “He has great potential.”

That is not Berger’s only regret from his days with Toro Rosso — another is signing the multiple Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais.

“I was wrong about him,” said the former Ferrari and McLaren driver. “He came from America where he had won everything, but formula one was just too fast for him.

“The late braking was too much for him,” added Berger.