Toro Rosso: Sebastien Buemi started in 2009

Scuderia Toro Rosso is pleased to announce that Sébastien Buemi will drive for the team in the 2009 F1 World Championship season. The 20-year-old from Aigle, Switzerland, competed in GP2008 in 2 and was Red Bull's third driver. For most of his career, Sébastien was supported by Red Bull as part of the Junior Driver Programme.

Team Principal Franz Tost commented: "We are happy to welcome Sébastien, who was already part of the Red Bull family. Our engineers were impressed by his speed and his ability to learn and progress during testing carried forward last season. This and the good performances put together in GP2 convinced us to entrust him with the wheel. His hiring is part of the Junior Team Program and confirms the
Dietrich Mateschitz's desire to use Toro Rosso as a showcase for young drivers supported in the minor categories".

"I am obviously very happy to be able to drive Toro Rosso next year – said Sébastien Buemi – getting to F1 has always been a goal of mine since I started racing. This year I will give my all to get the best results possible and to show Red Bull that their trust in me has been well placed. I would like to thank Red Bull for this opportunity and for all the help they have given me since 2005."

Sébastien's first outing for Scuderia Toro Rosso will take place in the test session scheduled for this month at the Portimao circuit in Portugal. Buemi's teammate will be announced... before the start of the Australian GP!

Red Bull (Translation by Manuel Codignoni)