If you’re a fan of Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne (and who isn’t?) then today is a good day as Toro Rosso announced they have re-signed the duo for the 2013 season.
Team boss, Franz Tost said:
“Both drivers have done a good job this season. Daniel joined us with a few Grands Prix
under his belt and so his feedback and experience was particularly useful while Jean-Eric got up to
speed, often having to deal with tracks he had never seen before. Since the summer break, both
drivers have scored more points and everyone in the team has been impressed with their maturity in
terms of working with the engineers and their racecraft on track. We will be doing our best in the next
few months, to produce a 2013 car which will allow them to demonstrate their talent.”
Daniel Ricciardo is hovering on 9 points for the season so far and said:
“I am really pumped to know that I am continuing with Scuderia Toro Rosso for
another season and want to thank the team and Red Bull. There are big expectations for next year
and I’m ready and willing to fulfil them. I feel I have been growing and developing as a driver and my
approach to the technical side of the sport has also progressed this year, so I am sure that will serve
me well in my second season with Toro Rosso. We have had quite a tough season, but despite that, I
have always enjoyed a good relationship with all the guys and I am delighted at the idea of working
with them for another year.”
Jean-Eric Vergne is leading his teammate with 12 points this year and said:
“I am really happy about this great news. Thank you Toro Rosso and thank you
Red Bull, who have backed me since the early days of my career. It has been a difficult season and,
as a rookie, I have learned a lot, thanks to the support I got and the excellent relationship I have
enjoyed with all the guys. I feel much stronger now and I know I have become a better driver over the
course of the season. I really believe in this team and with all the experience I have gained, combined
with the team’s ambitious plans for next year, I think we can look forward to great things in 2013,
attacking all the way.”
Not a huge surprise here as Toro Rosso has proven to hang on to their drivers for a couple-three years as they did Alguersuari and Buemi. Vergne has been good and for me, they were the highlight of the Korean grand prix as they ran nose-to-tail hunting for Williams cars. Great stuff.
