Buemi: 2013 and Webber’s seat as objectives

The announcement of the dismissal of the two main Toro Rosso drivers last December had the effect of a bombshell. Indeed, likely under the pressure from the parent company, the Italian team decided to sacrifice its two main drivers in favor of the almost novices, Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo, reminding everyone of its raison d’être: to train Red Bull’s hopefuls, just like in the days of Sebastian Vettel.

In an interview with the Swiss newspaper Le Matin after being officially appointed as the third driver at Red Bull, Sebastien Buemi confirms that he had been in discussions with the Austrian team since his dismissal from Toro Rosso: « Obviously, I was surprised; I did not expect it at all. But the people at Red Bull immediately offered me this job as the third driver. I thought about it and eventually accepted. […] I think it was the best option for me; it is the logical continuation of my three seasons at Toro Rosso and the progression of my entire single-seater career. One must not lose sight of the fact that Red Bull has been supporting me since 2004. »

The Swiss driver will therefore succeed Jean-Eric Vergne in a role deemed valuable by many observers and by the team itself: I am part of the world champion team, just like the two other drivers. I will attend all the races and all the test sessions to be ready to replace one of the two main drivers in case of a problem. But, above all, I will extensively develop the car on the simulator, which will be a very important part of my job. This will take place at the Milton Keynes factory in England, and it will allow me to get familiar with the team’s engineers. Being close to them will be the best way to secure a spot within their team in the future…

Indeed, the Swiss driver could inherit Mark Webber’s seat, whose contract only runs until the end of 2012 for now, even if, for some, this position as a third driver is seen as a step back for the Swiss, who however contests this idea: « I don’t see it that way. Of course, driving is always better. But, in reality, I think it’s better to be the third driver in the best team on the grid rather than a main driver in one of the smaller teams at the back of the starting grid… Since December, I’ve been in contact with other teams, and I had opportunities elsewhere. But the best solution was ultimately to stay with Red Bull. I’ll be at the factory very often, and I will participate in all their promotional days. I’ll be an integral part of the best team on the grid, and that’s obviously very positive. Now it’s up to me to give my all on the simulator to prove to them that I have the qualities required to drive the Red Bull, in case Mark Webber’s contract is not renewed in 2013. »

But the Vaudois clarifies that he has not received any guarantees for 2013 and does not rule out other options: « The contract I just signed is only for one year. After that, nothing has been promised to me, we’ll see. It is very difficult to predict what will happen in 2013, because many drivers will see their contracts end this season. There will be spots to fill, and we’ll have to take advantage of that. »

The examples of drivers who have agreed to play in the shadows in the hope of bouncing back to a starting position are indeed numerous. How can we not think of the surprising yet intelligent choice of Olivier Panis to relinquish a starting position to become a test driver for McLaren, or Fernando Alonso, who, after a season with Minardi, returned to the shadows at Renault to prepare for a starting position. Another more recent example is Nico Hülkenberg, who had to settle for a reserve role at Force India in 2011 but will be starting on the grid this season. The difference, however, in Sebastien Buemi’s case, is that the Red Bull driver has very little chance of racing this season: “Not in F1, at least not as long as there is no request from the team. But I must be ready to jump into the car at any moment,” he explains. “To keep my skills sharp, I will continue my physical training and try to find a complementary program in another racing series. Ideally, it would be to combine F1 with a different championship, like endurance racing. Taking part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans would be something I’d love. There’s no Grand Prix during the Le Mans weekend, so it would be possible. And the big teams will start their private testing very soon, so I could participate in that too. I’ll probably be able to announce soon in detail what my 2012 program will be.”

The Vaudois could also take on the role of consultant for RTS, as some reserves like Pedro de la Rosa or Nico Hülkenberg have already done. Indeed, on his Facebook account, Maïque Perez, the current F1 commentator for the Swiss broadcaster, stated: “Sincerely very happy for Sébastien Buemi. With certainly the role of consultant for RTS! Plus other things that will allow him to compete in races in 2012.”