Photo by: XPB Images
Red Bull Racing today confirmed Sebastien Buemi will join the team as official test and reserve driver for the 2012 season. The 23-year old Swiss driver will team up with German double World Champion Sebastian Vettel and Australian Mark Webber.
Buemi recently much to his own surprise lost his race seat at Red Bull’s Italian sister team Toro Rosso, as did Jaime Alguersuari.
With only two race seats available, one at Williams and one at HRT, Buemi did not have much of a choice and decided to stay at Red Bull as test and reserve driver.
Buemi commented in a statement, “It’s good to remain with Red Bull for another year and have this opportunity with the World Championship winning team.”
And added, “I would prefer to be driving at the races of course, but working with Red Bull Racing on the development of their car and providing them with feedback throughout the season is the next best thing.”
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner said: “It was entirely logical for Sébastien to continue with Red Bull having been a member of the Junior Team since 2004.”
Horner is confident Buemi is the right man for Red Bull, “He already knows the team well from his time with us in 2008 and has gained significant race experience over the past three years. He will complete important test and simulation work for us throughout the year and will be in attendance at each Grand Prix.”
The Swiss-born driver who lives in Bahrain joined Red Bull Racing in 2008 also as test driver, but started his career as an active Formula One driver in 2009 for Scuderia Toro Rosso, Buemi has participated in 55 Grands Prix and has scored 29 World Championship points.
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