Zoom Much to speculate regarding Red Bull's plans

Doctor Helmut Marko, Red Bull's motorsport consultant, might have many changes in mind regarding the final stretch of the 2008 season for the Red Bull and Toro Rosso teams.

The Austrian is in charge of recruiting and managing the group's pool of young drivers appearing in several series, and such an investment must logically bring about promotions to a Formula One seat. According to Marko, GP2 series contender Sebastien Buemi, who also acts as the Red Bull F1 team's reserve driver, is best placed to take the Red Bull family's next available Formula One seat.

The rumour now making its way around the Valencia paddock sees Helmut Marko pushing for a sweeping game of musical chairs within the two Red Bull-backed teams.

Letting Buemi prepare the next step of his career in actual race conditions before the 2009 season begins would be a clear advantage. Likewise, it would be beneficial if Sebastien Vettel left Toro Rosso sooner than planned and concluded the 2008 season at the main Red Bull team, thereby allowing him to settle in with his new outfit several months ahead of the 2009 campaign as well.

Following the Italian Grand Prix in mid-September, the championship's final European round, David Coulthard may be asked to move his well-deserved retirement plans ahead a few months. Such a move would allow Sebastien Vettel to take over his seat and finish the four final overseas races with Red Bull.

The seat vacated by Vettel at Toro Rosso could then be handed over to Sebastien Buemi, who would have four Grand Prix to adapt himself to Formula One racing before he is evaluated for a full-time position with the team next year. The same opportunity might just as well be presented to fellow GP2 competitor and F1 hopeful Bruno Senna instead of Buemi. Another plan might see Buemi and Senna taking two races each.

The verdict is still out in regards to Sebastien Bourdais continuing or not with Toro Rosso next year, although team co-owner Gerhard Berger said he believes the Frenchman has what it takes to go beyond his first F1 season despite his ongoing struggles with this year's car.

Bourdais' great experience in racing cannot be denied, especially if the team wants to offset rookies such as Buemi or Senna, but nonetheless the word is floating around that Helmut Marko might recommend a premature departure for Bourdais in order to place Senna and Buemi in the Toro Rosso seats as early training for 2009.