Zoom STR gives Buemi the nod for the 2009 season

Scuderia Toro Rosso confirmed today that Sebastien Buemi will drive for the team this year. The 20 year-old Swiss driver competed in GP2 last year with Arden International, finishing the season sixth in the standings.

For much of his racing career Buemi has been supported by Red Bull as part of its Junior Driver programme and in addition to his GP2 role last year, gained valuable F1 test mileage as test and reserve driver with Red Bull Racing.

Buemi’s first track outing as an official Scuderia Toro Rosso driver will be at the test session held at the Portimao Circuit in Portugal later this month.

The team also confirmed that they are in no hurry to announce Buemi's team-mate for the forthcoming season; stating that an announcement will be made at some point ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Sebastien Bourdais and Takuma Sato are currently favourites for the seat.

Sebastien Buemi
“I am naturally very happy to be driving for Scuderia Toro Rosso this year. Being a Formula One driver has always been my target, since I first started racing. This year, I will do all I can to bring home the best possible results and to show Red Bull that the confidence it has shown in me is justified. I want to thank Red Bull for this opportunity and for all the help they have given me in my career, dating back to 2005.”

Franz Tost, Team Principal
“We are delighted to welcome Sebastien, who was already part of the Red Bull family, to our team. Our engineers have been impressed with his speed in the car and his ability to learn and progress during the testing he has carried out for us last year. That, along with some impressive performances in GP2 was enough to convince us to give him the drive."

"His appointment also fulfils the aims of the Red Bull Junior Driver programme and meets Dietrich Mateschitz’s intention to use Scuderia Toro Rosso as a showcase for young drivers the company has supported in the lower formulae.”

E.A. © CAPSIS International