Formula One news

Alguersuari keen to keep racing outside F1

Jaime Alguersuari has admitted that he enjoys races in smaller formulae alongside Formula One, particularly in a season such as 2009 when a ban prohibits in-season testing. The 19-year-old Spaniard is currently competing in the World Series by Renault as well as driving in his first F1 season for Toro Rosso.

Having made his F1 debut in Hungary, Alguersuari has just three Grands Prix under his belt although the most recent in Belgium saw the teenager taken out of the race in Spa's first-lap multi-car collision. "I'm 19 years old," he began to explain. "I think, as a karting driver, I act as a karting driver and I continue to be a karting driver even when I am in F1."

Jaime's Belgian Grand Prix ended in the gravel at Les Combes

The Barcelona pilot recognises the privileges of racing in the premier level of motorsport at such an each age but, contrary to the beliefs of some drivers, feels that any form of racing is good for experience. "Being an F1 driver at my age is a privilege that requires me to become better every single day, so I try to fight with the best drivers in the world outside of F1," he continued.

"On the Sarno track (Italian karting circuit) there are the best (karting) drivers in the world; with Franz (Tost, Toro Rosso Team Principal), we've understood each other perfectly from the first moment we met - the same with Giorgio Ascanelli (Technical Director); both are very demanding but they agree with me that, based on my age, I should continue a process of training at a top level, which I would have developed if I didn't enter F1 so early."

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