Vergne puzzled by Red Bull logic

Jean-Eric Vergne

Jean-Eric Vergne has expressed disbelief regarding the decision by Scuderia Toro Rosso to drop him in favor of 20-year-old Carlos Sainz and 17-year-old Max Verstappen. Vergne, 24, had been with the Red Bull 'B' team from 2012-2014, and this season outscored teammate Daniil Kvyat who was promoted to the senior Red Bull squad over Vergne.

"Nothing has made any sense," Vergne told AUTOSPORT before the Toro Rosso driver decision was officially confirmed.

"Last year I know [the reason I lost out on a Red Bull drive to Ricciardo], this year I guess there is some politics. I don't know.

"They [Red Bull] always say points matter; they know I was 5kg overweight compared to my team-mate, so I had at least two tenths [disadvantage] that no one knew about in qualifying – they know all the technical issues I had that didn't allow me to score points.

"I think I've made a really strong season compared to last year and I think it's been really unfortunate that I've had so many [technical] problems, because I would have had a lot more points and things would play a different role for me.

"I think I made a massive step forward compared to last year and I feel much better and happier as a driver.

"I have nothing to regret. There are many things I cannot say that never played in my favour, but that is how it is.

"I always try to get stronger every time something comes against me."

[Editor's note: We have no idea why Vergne is so confused. The reason he was passed over is quite simple. The Toro Rosso team exists to groom drivers for the Red Bull senior team, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo being perfect examples. When Red Bull decides Toro Rosso drivers are not at a level befitting of the Red Bull senior team (and we don't rate Vergne in that category), they replace them with drivers that are younger, who may one day be capable of excelling at Red Bull a la Vettel and Ricciardo. And if Vergne needs to ask anyone Scott Speed, Vitantonio Liuzzi, Christian Klein, Sebastien Buemi, and Jaime Alguersuari are amongst those who would be willing to explain.]

AR1 Staff Report