Thursday, 24th July 2008

Red Bull test driver looking to replace Sebastian Vettel for 2009 Formula 1 season.

Red Bull Racing test driver Sebastien Buemi says he is looking to try and secure the vacant seat at Toro Rosso for the 2009 Formula 1 season.

The Red Bull ‘B' squad has a seat available for next year following the announcement last week that Sebastian Vettel will move up to partner Mark Webber in the RBR line-up next year, with Buemi – currently seventh in the GP2 standings for Trust Team Arden – looking to make the step up to replace the young German.

"For me my main objective is to try and finish well in the GP2 season this year, but then the objective is really to be in the Toro Rosso next season," he told ITV-F1. "The [F1] tests are really important for me as well because I can perform in front of everybody and show them that I am able to do the job.

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"Also if I do well in GP2, then everything should go all right."

Buemi could find his cause aided by the fact that the Arden team is run by RBR team boss Christian Horner, with the 19-year-old Swiss racer admitting that his current links to Red Bull could only work in his favour as he seeks to make the step into F1.

"Yeah I think for sure," he said. "If Red Bull is making a junior team then it is just not for fun. They want to develop drivers and then when they get one who is not too bad they will put him in F1.

"Hopefully they take the decision to put me in the Toro Rosso car next season."

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