Toro Rosso announce unchanged line-up for 2011

Toro Rosso have confirmed their line-up for 2011 will be unchanged amid speculation Sébastien Buemi could leave the team.

After impressing with the Italian team, Buemi had been linked with a move to Renault after team boss Eric Boullier said the Swiss was being considered to partner Robert Kubica for 2011.

Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s junior team, is seen as a breeding ground for their young drivers, and has already seen Sebastian Vettel graduate to the Red Bull team.

Buemi is expected to be promoted in 2012 to partner Vettel when Mark Webber’s latest contract expires.

Buemi joined the team in 2008 as test driver before securing a race seat in 2009 when Vettel was promoted. Team-mate Jaime Alguersuari was appointed reserve and test driver in the second half of 2009 only to be drafted in as a replacement for Sébastien Bourdais two weeks later.

Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost said: “Our drivers still lack F1 experience to the majority of their colleagues.

“I believe our drivers will be well prepared for 2011, which is why they are both confirmed for next year.

“It is also logical, because one key role of Scuderia Toro Rosso is to bring on young drivers from the Red Bull Young Driver programme and at the ages of 21 and 20 respectively, both Seb and Jaime certainly still meet the right criteria.”

Buemi scored six points in his debut season for Toro Rosso with his best two finishes, both seventh place, coming in Australia and Brazil.

So far this season, Buemi has seven points through points-winning finishes at Monaco, Valencia, and Silverstone, and is 14th in the drivers’ championship.

Team mate Algersuari has been less successful, failing to score any points in 2009, but this year has three points from finishes in Malaysia and his home grand prix in Spain.