The bosses of three top F1 teams agree that Jaime Alguersuari has done enough to secure his place on the grid for next season. The Spaniard, along with his Toro Rosso teammate Sebastien Buemi, are at risk of losing their race seats for the 2012 season to Red Bull’s latest young chargers Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne. But McLaren’s Whitmarsh thinks Alguersuari, 21, is now an established driver.
“He is no longer a rookie or a question-mark, he is now a driver with full credibility,” the Briton is quoted by Spain’s TV3 television.
Whitmarsh added that Alguersuari’s 2011 season – his second full season in Formula One – has been “very good overall” even though he is “still developing, but that’s normal”.
Ferrari’s Stefano Domenicali agrees. “I think he has done some good races and has been instrumental in the development of the car,” the Italian said. “He will only get more experience with some more patience, but he has a very good potential.”
And Mercedes’ Ross Brawn, whose career has been closely linked with Michael Schumacher’s success, said of Alguersuari: “He unquestionably deserves a place in Formula One. I have been impressed even though it is quite difficult to judge a driver who has only been with one team.”
