Buemi will not replace Webber at Red Bull in 2014

Following the announcement of Mark Webber leaving the Red Bull team at the end of the year, several names have emerged as potential replacements for the Australian alongside Sebastian Vettel in 2014.

One of the names mentioned was Sébastien Buemi, currently the third driver for the Austrian team and a Toyota driver in Endurance racing. However, despite strong performances with the Japanese manufacturer – he finished 2nd last weekend at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – and in the Red Bull simulator to assist Vettel and Webber, Christian Horner stated that the Swiss driver was not in the running to replace Webber in 2014.

Sébastien made a great contribution this year as a third driver and by doing development work in the simulator. He had a great race at Le Mans last weekend which was nice to see. But he is not a candidate for a full-time seat at Red Bull Racing. He is an important member of the team but our choice is more focused on current Formula 1 drivers, the Red Bull team director told journalists at Silverstone.

Buemi took part in 55 Formula 1 Grand Prix with the Toro Rosso team between 2009 and 2011; he was then sidelined—along with Jaime Alguersuari—in favor of Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne. The Aigle native remained within the fold by becoming the third driver for the Red Bull team and continued his racing career by joining Toyota in Endurance, but this does not seem enough for Red Bull to offer him another chance in F1.