Vergne to keep Toro Rosso seat (Update)
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| Jean-Eric Vergne |
Scuderia Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric sounded very confident Thursday at Interlagos when asked about his 2015 prospects with the team.
"Compared to one month ago," Vergne told France's RMC at Interlagos, "the situation is much more optimistic.
Of course, Vergne was passed up for a set at the Red Bull senior team in favor of 2014 STR teammate Daniil Kvyat last month. It was the second time in a year's span that JEV had lost out to a Toro Rosso teammate, as 2013-teammate Daniel Ricciardo got the nod for 2014.
"A lot of people at Red Bull and Toro Rosso would like to keep me next year so we will see how the situation will evolve," he added.
"I also discussed it with the boss Dietrich Mateschitz in Russia and I think everything is going in the right direction at the moment. I'm still part of the Red Bull family so I think all the signs are green now," said the 24-year-old Frenchman.
Looks like JEV is set to return with the Red Bull junior team. We await the official announcement.
AR1 Staff Report
10/14/14
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| Jean-Eric Vergne |
(GMM) It is more and more certain that Jean-Eric Vergne will secure at least one more year with Toro Rosso.
Earlier, the 24-year-old Frenchman had been left out in the cold by the Red Bull junior team, as teenage Max Verstappen was signed up for 2015.
But with Daniil Kvyat subsequently called up by Red Bull's senior team, it emerged that the energy drink company is reluctant to pair Verstappen, a 17-year-old rookie, with yet another inexperienced youngster for 2015 like Carlos Sainz Jr.
Team owner Dietrich Mateschitz has now been asked by Speed Week if Vergne is set to stay at Toro Rosso in 2015.
The billionaire answered: "To have an experienced driver next to a very young driver is quite a strong argument."
Mateschitz also hit back at Red Bull's rivals who have criticized the signing of a driver as young and inexperienced as Verstappen.
"They all wanted Verstappen," he told Kleine Zeitung newspaper. "Only now that he is with us is there suddenly this great outcry."
Finally, Mateschitz confirmed that world champion Sebastian Vettel's contract with Red Bull will officially conclude "five days after the last race" in Abu Dhabi.