Okay, so the title is a little presumptuous, but today BMW allowed their test driver and US Grand Prix point scorer Sebastian Vettel to join Scuderia Toro Rosso for the remainder of the season. Following an altercation between Scott Speed and Franz Tost at the recent European Grand Prix, Speed said he would not drive for the team again if Tost and Gerhard Berger remained as managers. Although the Californian racer did a couple of days testing for the squad, he has now left the team and Vettel will be wearing Red Bull overalls in Hungary.
As our test and reserve driver, Sebastian has carried out sterling work for us. When he stood in for Robert Kubica in the USA Grand Prix he made history by becoming the youngest debutant to earn a world championship point.
However, the current testing rules mean that he barely gets a chance to drive for us. Now he has been offered the opportunity to get inside a Toro Rosso cockpit. We have sponsored and coached Sebastian over a number of years. To place obstacles in his career path now would go against our concept of talent promotion. Mario Theissen.
BMWs second test driver Timo Glock will step up to the role of test and reserve driver.
August 1st, 2007 at 11:14pm
Typical stupid STR management to do this sort of thing. When Franz and Gerhard have learned to run a stable and happy team, then they can worry about their driver line-up. As it stands, I don’t think Vettel stands a chance in that place, regardless of his talent level.