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The qualifying session at Monza was held under very difficult conditions today, with rain falling throughout the three sessions. However, one driver set about explaining to the rest why he has received a promotion to Red Bull Racing next year - Sebastian Vettel. While the weather certainly played a large part in his pole position, Vettel’s pace was good, and with team mate Bourdais in fourth, one has to wonder if the German driver wouldn’t be better staying with STR for next year. Continue Reading

In an extraordinary qualifying session at the rain-soaked Monza circuit in Northern Italy, Sebastian Vettel has taken his very first pole position in his career, also giving his Scuderia Toro Rosso team their highest ever qualifying position. Vettel’s team mate Sebastien Bourdais underlines the pace in the car during the difficult conditions by clocking the fourth quickest time, only being demoted by Mark Webber in the dying seconds of the session. Heikki Kovalainen starts second as Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen were knocked out of the running in Q2. Continue Reading

Despite not officially becoming a member of the Red Bull race team until his duties with Scuderia Toro Rosso are completed at the end of the season, the young German who has already signed an RBR contract will test for the team later in the month at Jerez. The news of Vettel’s test has heightened speculation that David Coulthard could be dropped prior to the end of the season, allowing both teams to get a jump start on familiarising themselves with their new drivers. Continue Reading

After Bruno Senna rubbished the rumour that he has already signed for Scuderia Toro Rosso for 2009, the Austro/Italian team have stated that they will be evaluating Red Bull test driver Sébastien Buemi at the Jerez test in September. Sébastien was announced as Red Bull’s test driver for this season back in January, and although the testing limits have meant the Swiss driver has seen little serious action in the car, Buemi has been busy doing PR stunts for the team as well as competing in the GP2 series. Continue Reading

The Formula One drivers finally got to drive around the new Valencia circuit earlier this morning as the free practice session got underway for Sunday’s race. Being a new track on the calendar, the tables look a little different as some drivers managed to get a great set-up from the word go while others started a little slower. And at the very top is Sebastian Vettel, charging around the streets in his Ferrari-powered Scuderia Toro Rosso. Continue Reading

Born in 1987, Sebastian Vettel is among the youngest of all the Formula One drivers, the wiry built German having progressed to the sport’s highest echelon during the 2007 season with BMW. Vettel holds many records centred around his age, but he also holds the record for being the quickest driver to receive a fine, occurring only nine seconds into his career as he sped down the pit lane beyond the mandatory speed limit. Since starting with BMW and later, STR in 2007, he has gained a mixed reputation from fans and critics alike. Continue Reading

Sebastian Vettel and Sebastien Bourdais will enjoy the privilege of racing the brand new STR3 at this upcoming Monaco Grand Prix, the team having finally been able to build and test enough cars after the French half of the driving duo trashed the first one while testing. But unfortunately for Vettel, running the new car will also be rewarded with a five-grid slot penalty, thanks to the new four-race gearbox rules. Continue Reading

Three races into the season and Scuderia Toro Rosso have finally received their new machine, the STR3. Designed by parent team Red Bull Racing and bearing a strong resemblance to the RB4 currently driven by Mark Webber and David Coulthard, it is hoped the new motor will help the team in getting further into the midfield. Sebastien Bourdais was the second driver to run it around a circuit, turning up this morning at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya to take part in the test session with other teams. The car has already been shaken down by New Zealand’s Brendon Hartley at Vairano a couple of weeks ago. Continue Reading

Fernando Alonso let a rather large cat out of his bag earlier today when he spoke about his contract with Renault and the competitiveness of Ferrari, as well as the mistakes made by current Scuderia pilot Felipe Massa. Speaking to the Spanish media, Alonso let slip that he has a clause in his current contract that allows him to leave, although it is unknown how this might come into effect if needed. Likely it is based on the performance of the car, which currently isn’t doing too well. Continue Reading

While testing yesterday around the notoriously bumpy Circuit de Catalunya, it appears that David Coulthard has picked up a minor injury in his neck. The Scot has apparently tweaked his neck and has since decided to rest in case the problem is further exacerbated. So while Coulthard sits on the sidelines Red Bull have drafted in Sebastian Vettel to help out with the team’s testing programme. Vettel, who drives for partner team Scuderia Toro Rosso, will see the benefits from testing with the Red Bull squad as it has been said that the new STR3 will be a direct derivative of the RB4. The new STR is due to be delivered to the team in time for the European season. Continue Reading