Scuderia
Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost insists that he will not be making adjustments to his 2008 line-up to accommodate anyone pushed out of
Red Bull Racing by the possible arrival of Fernando Alonso.
Despite admitting that he is aware that the Spaniard has been in talks with the drinks brand regarding a move to Milton Keynes after his unceremonious exit from McLaren, Tost remained adamant that 'Team Seb' would remain in place for next season, confounding rumours that
Sebastien Bourdais may be benched to make room for either
David Coulthard or Mark Webber.
"The fact that Alonso is, as yet, without a deal is interesting for any team, as one does not get the opportunity to sign a double world champion that often," he told
tirol.com, "I know that
Red Bull has had talks with Alonso, but the fact is that
Toro Rosso has a contract with [Sebastian] Vettel and [Sebastien] Bourdais. Everything else is rumour and conjecture."
Although Coulthard - the most likely candidate for the push should Alonso be tempted by Red Bull's offer - would bring experience to Toro Rosso, Tost appears happy to proceed with his less accomplished line-up.
"I am confident," he insisted, "Of course, Bourdais is new to Formula One, but he is a four-time Champ Car champion and, before that, won the F3000 championship. As for Vettel, he has already proved that it is a high-carat talent. All that remains is for us to provide a car worthy of them."
Tost revealed that
Toro Rosso will start 2008 with the current STR2, running the first four races - the three traditional 'flyaways' plus the Spanish GP - before switching to its definitive 2008 model after it has had time to iron out the sort of problem which plagued the start of 2007.
