Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost has admitted four drivers are still in the running to fill the team’s two race seats in 2012.
The four drivers in the running for the Toro Rosso seats next year are current drivers Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari, along with Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne – who kicked off his new Friday driving duties in Korea last weekend – and another Red Bull-backed hopeful, Australian rookie Daniel Ricciardo, who currently drives for HRT.
“Jean-Eric is one of four drivers – with Buemi, Alguersuari and Ricciardo – that Red Bull is thinking about placing with Toro Rosso next year,” team principal Tost told the French daily L’Equipe.
“We will take our decision in December. It’s really open and Jean-Eric is a possibility for 2012,” the Austrian added.
Vergne, runner-up in this year’s Renault World Series, said in Korea that he expects to have a job at Toro Rosso next season.
“I like his driving style,” confirmed Tost. “He has already demonstrated in the World Series his mastery of the car and his aggressiveness.”
Tost revealed that another Frenchman is also in talks with Toro Rosso.
“We are negotiating with Charles Pic,” said Tost, referring to the 21-year-old GP2 driver.
“There is a possibility that Charles will run a test with us during the days reserved for young drivers in Abu Dhabi.”
Source:GMM
