Alguersuari finds heavyweight allies
Jaime Alguersuari is competing with several drivers for a starting position at Toro Rosso in 2012. However, many top team executives believe that it is legitimate for the Spaniard to keep his place next year.
With the very good results of Jean-Eric Vergne during the recent Rookie Days on the Abu Dhabi circuit, pressure is on the two current official drivers of Toro Rosso, Swiss Sébastien Buemi and Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari.
This last one, however, has been noticed by various bosses of major teams who praise his progress and driving skills, like Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren’s sporting director: Jaime is no longer a beginner or a question mark; he is now a driver with credibility. His second season has been quite successful overall. Even if he still has to improve, which is normal.
Stefano Domenicali of Ferrari is on the same wavelength as Whitmarsh, and moreover, with Toro Rosso being powered by Ferrari, the Italian is keeping a close eye on the Spaniard’s performance: «I think he has had good races and played an important role in the development of the car. He will gain even more experience by being patient, but he has very great potential.»
On his side, Ross Brawn is equally ecstatic, but his enthusiasm is a bit more measured: “I have been impressed, even though it is quite difficult to judge a driver who has raced for only one team…”
Here is a nice business card for the Spanish driver, also threatened by the Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who has been highlighted in recent Grand Prix for regularly outperforming his more experienced teammate, Tonio Liuzzi at HRT.
