“An F1 car is faster, its overall performance is better and it is harder for a driver to take it to its limit. The hardest thing about it is that, in F1, you have to do several things at the same time – communicate with the team by radio, constantly change settings on the steering wheel, follow instructions from the team and all of this while going considerably quicker than in other formulae.

“You have to keep your feet on the ground and not get depressed if the results don't come immediately. It will be a tough season, and everyone in the team will be working hard to make progress with the car in a discipline that represents the highest form of motorsport.”

The man from Aigle – supported by Red Bull for much of his fledgling career in the sport – also clearly believes that the energy drinks company's 'junior' squad is the best environment possible in which he can learn his F1 trade and earn his spurs. What's more, if progress is maintained over the winter, the small Faenza-based concern could well begin the new campaign with a strong chance of points-scoring and even podium-challenging success.

“Toro Rosso is the ideal team with which to start a career,” Buemi stated, “and it was set up specifically to help young drivers get into F1. Sebastian Vettel proved that last year. The team has a lot of potential.”

Buemi's 2009 team-mate at STR has still to be confirmed, with 2008 incumbent and former record-breaking Champ Car king Sébastien Bourdais and out-of-work Super Aguri refugee Takuma Sato believed to be duelling it out for the seat.