Toro Rosso drivers’ ‘weaknesses’

Gerhard Berger has criticised Toro Rosso’s 2006 race lineup as the team continue to deliberate over who their drivers will be for 2007. Despite Liuzzi and Speed being favourites to retain their seats, Berger has said that both drivers showed weaknesses during 2006.

Berger told German magazine Auto Motor und Sport that both drivers lacked focus and spent too much time on ‘fun’. “You don’t see superstars like Schumacher and Alonso at too many parties,” he said. Berger has also denied that double champion Mika Hakkinen would make a surprise comeback to Formula 1 with STR in 2007.

Toro Rosso will probably announce their driver lineup at the beginning of next month. Although Speed and Liuzzi are the firm favourites, Sebastien Bourdais, Robert Doornbos and Ernesto Viso are also thought to be in the running.