Formula One news

Tost: Loeb F1 drive not practical

Franz Tost is sure that handing Sébastien Loeb a one-off Abu Dhabi drive would not have been a good idea. With the Frenchman, World Rally Champion from 2004 to 2008, having failed to meet specifications to obtain an FIA Superlicence, the Toro Rosso line-up will remain unaffected ahead of this season's final Grand Prix.

Loeb drove at GP2's Jerez test session a fortnight ago

With Loeb's website stating that only a failure to pick up the Superlicence prevented his Yas Marina season finale Formula One debut, Toro Rosso Team Principal Tost is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport as labelling the possibility 'a suicide mission'.

"From a sporting point of view, these applications would have made little sense," the Austrian admitted. "The power density in Formula One is higher than ever before. Loeb could, at worst, lose three to four seconds on the field; today, no-one can simply insert themselves into the car and be on the pace immediately - one has to only look at the difficulties seasoned F1 drivers have when they re-enter the sport."

"He would probably have done themselves no favours," added Jacques Laffite, who won six Grands Prix for France during his F1 career between 1974 and 1986. "He wanted to use this unique opportunity."

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