Jean-Eric Vergne announces split with Toro Rosso F1 team

Jean-Eric Vergne announces split with Toro Rosso F1 team

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Mini1275

Original Poster:

11,098 posts

181 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116949

Autosport said:
Jean-Eric Vergne has announced that he is splitting with the Toro Rosso Formula 1 team, making Carlos Sainz Jr the favourite for the remaining 2015 seat alongside Max Verstappen.

Vergne had already effectively lost his seat with the team once, when it announced Formula 3 rookie Verstappen and its 2014 driver Daniil Kvyat as its '15 F1 line-up in August.

But the possibility of a reprieve for the Frenchman emerged when Kvyat was promoted to Red Bull instead following Sebastian Vettel's defection to Ferrari.

That chance ended on Wednesday, as Vergne announced via his Twitter feed that his Toro Rosso stint was definitely over.

"Despite a good season and 22 points, I'll not drive any more for Toro Rosso in 2015," he wrote.

"Thanks for those years. Let's go for another big challenge."

Vergne has raced for Toro Rosso since he and Daniel Ricciardo replaced Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari for the 2012 season.

Red Bull had previously backed the Frenchman through a junior career that included the 2010 British F3 title.

With Vergne out of the running, Formula Renault 3.5 champion Sainz becomes the most likely candidate for the second Toro Rosso seat.

Sainz has been testing for Toro Rosso's parent team Red Bull in Abu Dhabi this week.

FR3.5 runner-up Pierre Gasly is an outside contender for Toro Rosso, but is thought more likely to end up in GP2 with DAMS. He is testing for the French squad in Abu Dhabi later this week.

AUTOSPORT understands that an announcement by Toro Rosso is likely to happen next Monday.

funkyrobot

18,789 posts

227 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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Jump before a shove?

Jasandjules

69,825 posts

228 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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Well, "I'll not drive" is not an indication either way..


PhillipM

6,515 posts

188 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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Kvyat to stay in Torro Rosso for an additional year under the Red Bull program then, and Button to Red Bull with Ricciardo - taking Vettels old seat - to provide the experience to backup Ric's speed.

Wishful thinking?


Edited by PhillipM on Wednesday 26th November 18:15

Vocal Minority

8,582 posts

151 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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Of the highest order...

entropy

5,403 posts

202 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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funkyrobot said:
Jump before a shove?
Either he was told his option won't be taken or he turned down test role.

NewMetalSystem

351 posts

178 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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PhillipM said:
Kvyat to stay in Torro Rosso for an additional year under the Red Bull program then, and Button to Red Bull with Ricciardo - taking Vettels old seat - to provide the experience to backup Ric's speed.

Wishful thinking?


Edited by PhillipM on Wednesday 26th November 18:15
Unfortunately, I think so. Say what you like about Red Bull, but at least they have faith in their young driver programme. Not many people could say that. *cough* Ferrari.

Speed Badger

2,667 posts

116 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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My special secret underground sources indicate J-EV might possibly be joining Williams as Test & reserve driver.

jbudgie

8,842 posts

211 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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Speed Badger said:
My special secret underground sources indicate J-EV might possibly be joining Williams as Test & reserve driver.
That could be a very good move.

tobinen

9,184 posts

144 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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He'd make a useful addition to any team IMO, so I hope he finds a seat in F1, even if just for testing.


afrochicken

1,166 posts

208 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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Speed Badger said:
My special secret underground sources indicate J-EV might possibly be joining Williams as Test & reserve driver.
Is your special secret underground source the Ted Kravitz notebook segment after the AD GP by any chance?

FamilyDub

3,587 posts

164 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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afrochicken said:
Speed Badger said:
My special secret underground sources indicate J-EV might possibly be joining Williams as Test & reserve driver.
Is your special secret underground source the Ted Kravitz notebook segment after the AD GP by any chance?
hehe

Speed Badger

2,667 posts

116 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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Did Ted say that then? Sorry I didn't see that, I don't usually watch the gumph after the podium has finished. Well, good possible move anyway, I've long been championing J-EV, can't believe he didn't get a RBR seat.

AW111

9,455 posts

132 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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Speed Badger said:
Did Ted say that then? Sorry I didn't see that, I don't usually watch the gumph after the podium has finished. Well, good possible move anyway, I've long been championing J-EV, can't believe he didn't get a RBR seat.
Not to knock Vergne, but it's hard to see him bettering Ricciardo's results this year.

Gad-Westy

14,520 posts

212 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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AW111 said:
Speed Badger said:
Did Ted say that then? Sorry I didn't see that, I don't usually watch the gumph after the podium has finished. Well, good possible move anyway, I've long been championing J-EV, can't believe he didn't get a RBR seat.
Not to knock Vergne, but it's hard to see him bettering Ricciardo's results this year.
In JEV's defence, neither one of them particularly stood out at TR as being much better than the other. I think their points haul was fairly similar. JEV has looked pretty good this year at times and has completely spanked Kyviat, yet Kyviat has ended up in Red Bull. Seems very strange to me and makes me wonder what other factors might have been involved in the decision making.

Speed Badger

2,667 posts

116 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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That's true, however I reckon that Vergne in this years Red Bull would have been closer to Ricciardo than Vettel was, which is saying something. And given their comparative pace when both at Toro Rosso, it's hard to argue against that.

I believe that neither stood out particularly against the other at Toro Rosso because they were both super quick. If you had two Alonso's at Toro Rosso for example, neither would really stand out against the other, especially when finishing, say, 9th & 11th. However if you had an Alonso and a Pedro Diniz, one often finishing 7th, the other 15th, it would be obvious and Toro Rosso Alonso would be hailed the next best thing.

Edited by Speed Badger on Thursday 27th November 16:15

entropy

5,403 posts

202 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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Gad-Westy said:
JEV has looked pretty good this year at times and has completely spanked Kyviat, yet Kyviat has ended up in Red Bull. Seems very strange to me and makes me wonder what other factors might have been involved in the decision making.
But he's only having form since the summer break

Henry Fiddleton

1,581 posts

176 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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I think mentally, he is bit weak in comparison to Ricci and a few others.

Guess its easy for him to come across as bit "Im quick than him" when he has seen all this around him- a catch 22.

However, I think mentally, Ric was and is miles ahead.

Jev's main problem, form looking in, is his own - and Red Bull can probs see that hence the others getting the nod.

hairyben

8,516 posts

182 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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NewMetalSystem said:
PhillipM said:
Kvyat to stay in Torro Rosso for an additional year under the Red Bull program then, and Button to Red Bull with Ricciardo - taking Vettels old seat - to provide the experience to backup Ric's speed.

Wishful thinking?


Edited by PhillipM on Wednesday 26th November 18:15
Unfortunately, I think so. Say what you like about Red Bull, but at least they have faith in their young driver programme. Not many people could say that. *cough* Ferrari.
Yeah shame, button would have fitted in well there. Maybe if ricciardo wasn't quite so good they'd be considering someone like button as a team leader but their programs served them well so why mess with a good thing.

andy_s

19,397 posts

258 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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Sainz works well with some of the sponsors...