Formula One news

Buemi prepares for Melbourne

Formula One sees just one rookie driver on the grid in 2009, as Switzerland's Sebastien Buemi steps into the cockpit of the Toro Rosso. 20-year-old Buemi steps up from GP2 in which he finished sixth in 2008 after taking two race wins for the Arden team.

Having introduced the 2009 car late into the winter break, Buemi and team-mate Sebastien Bourdais have spent most of their off-season driving the team's 2008 race-winning contender. "What I can say about this year's car is that the team have put a lot of effort into it," Buemi said. "It's fast and competitive, even in comparison with the old car which was quick."

Sebastien first drove a Formula One car in 2007 when Red Bull, the organisation behind the Young Driver Programme on which he was included, offered him the opportunity during testing.

As the only newcomer of the year, the pressure could be on for Buemi in Australia: "I don't have any expectations," he admitted. "I want to finish the race, that's my focus - saying that scoring points wouldn't be fantastic would be a lie, but it is not my main objective. I want to learn a lot about the car, and in the past Melbourne has been a race with many accidents and casualties, so to finish the race will be a good start."

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• 25 Nov.
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• 24 Nov.
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