Having been confirmed on Wednesday as test and reserve driver for both Red Bull teams, Spain's Jaime Alguersuari has admitted that a race seat with the Toro Rosso squad is his target for next year. British Formula 3 Champion of 2008, the 19-year-old is looking to become to the second Spanish driver in F1.
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| Alguersuari won the British F3 title for Carlin in 2008 |
Taking over in the reserve role from Brendon Hartley for the rest of the season, Alguersuari will deputise for any of the four Red Bull drivers in the event of one not being able to compete on a Grand Prix weekend. In fact, with a ban on in-season testing, Jaime is unlikely to be seen in the car this year unless such a situation occurs. "We all need some in experience in Formula One, whatever it is," he said to Autosport. "There is no testing in F1 at the minute but I think it's a good position to start with anyway, to learn as much as I can from the F1 drivers and the team for next year and for the future." That he certainly will do, as Alguersuari will be listening into team radio conversations as well as attending all technical debriefs at races.
For next year, however, a hope to race at the top of the motorsport ladder remains. "My main objective and aim is to be as a race driver at Toro Rosso - that would be, for me, the best," he said as he stated his intentions. "It's going to be tough with not much testing to do, but once you get to F1 everything changes - we have seen that with guys like Sébastien Buemi and Sebastian Vettel.
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| Jaime is racing in the Formula Renault 3.5 series this year |
"We have seen drivers start in Formula One at a very young age; they learn there and get better and I think that's what you want to do. Like Fernando Alonso - he started at Minardi at, what, 21? He learned there, he moved to Renault where he was still learning and he won championships there. Now you can look at guys like Vettel who are doing the same."
Part of the Austrian drinks company's large Young Driver Development programme, Jaime is the latest man to step up F1 level. "I think it is the philosophy of Red Bull, to give drivers a chance to do that, and I think that's the best philosophy too," he continued. "You see what Buemi has done, and what Vettel has been able to do, and it gives you a lot of confidence and motivation that you could do the same; you just have to trust in Red Bull and try to show them that you deserve a chance, and earn it. To be the reserve driver for Red Bull and Toro Rosso is very positive and for me it's just the first part of it."
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Valencia |
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Valencia |
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| 03 Feb. |
Valencia |
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| 04 Feb. | 
Silverstone |
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| 05 Feb. |
Silverstone |
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| 10 Feb. |
Jerez |
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Jerez |
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| 12 Feb. |
Jerez |
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| 13 Feb. |
Jerez |
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