Formula One news

Vettel looking forward to next chapter

Sebastian Vettel has revealed that his lack of time in the BMW Sauber car was a factor in his switch to Toro Rosso. The former BMW Sauber test and reserve driver, who had been in the frame to race for the Hinwil-based team next season, opted to sign with the struggling Toro Rosso team for 2008 instead.

The 20-year-old said: "Everybody can understand that this year the testing regulations are very restrictive. You don't get to drive a lot. So the one that suffers most is the third driver, or even the two test drivers. Therefore, I think it was a very smart decision and a great opportunity for myself to do the step and that's it."

With the German under contract at Red Bull it was always a question of time before he moved from BMW to either Red Bull Racing or its sidekick Toro Rosso, which is part-owned by Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz. However, after Scott Speed's bust up with Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost at Nurburgring and with Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica's seats looking cemented at BMW Sauber, Vettel had to give up hope of going in straight at the top sooner rather than later.

"For sure the car is not on the same basis as the BMW car for instance," he conceded. "But you know this is the challenge. The car is not up there but you know there is a lot to work on and a lot to improve so I try to do the best on the circuit and also off the circuit to improve the situation. I don't care too much what happened in the past I prefer to focus on what is coming next and I am really looking forward to it."

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