Toro Rosso obviously had a lot of options for 2009 drivers, so what finally tipped the balance in Buemi’s favour?
Franz Tost: It’s not strictly true that we had a lot of options, as there are not that many drivers on the market that we would want to have driving for us. The decision was taken because he is a highly competent driver with a good level of natural speed. He is young and therefore has a future ahead of him and he is also a product of the Red Bull Young Driver programme.
When was the decision made?
FT: The decision was made at the end of December 2008.
Buemi was widely considered to be the favourite for the seat. Was he as obvious a choice as everyone seems to think?
FT: We considered the matter carefully. There was some discussion about whether or not this appointment came one year too early for him. We considered whether it might be better for him to spend another year racing in GP2. However, in the end we decided to sign him up with Toro Rosso for 2009, because he did a very good job in the test sessions last November and December. He compared well with the other drivers we used and proved that he is committed to the team, bringing with him a very positive attitude. These are the reasons that Red Bull decided to sign him.
How difficult is it to replace someone like Vettel, who was obviously very quick, but who also seemed very valuable to team morale?
FT: Replacing a winner is always difficult. Vettel has a strong character and he worked well with everyone in the team, from engineers to mechanics. He was popular with the team and is liked by all of us. We will definitely miss him.
How do Buemi and Vettel compare in terms of speed, consistency and mental strength?
FT: I can’t answer this question now. We need to give Buemi time to adapt to his new environment. Don’t forget that before racing for Scuderia Toro Rosso for one and a half seasons, Vettel had already been a test driver at race weekends for BMW and even competed in one grand prix for them (Indianapolis ’07.) We will need a bit more time to evaluate Buemi properly and you must also take into account that he is over a year younger than Vettel.
Buemi has several F1 tests and a lot of GP2 experience under his belt. Is he the ‘finished product’, or does the team expect him to need time to find his feet in F1?
FT: In life, and especially in Formula One, you are never a “finished product.” With each passing day, you learn something new, either from your own experience or from what others teach you. That is the case for Buemi, who has yet to line up on the grid for a Formula One grand prix. He will definitely gain in experience throughout the season, while learning that Formula One is a very complex discipline.
How strong is his technical feedback, and how much will be expected from him in terms of development?
FT: We have seen the content of his technical feedback increase every time he got in the car during the test sessions. He is now at quite a good level in this respect. But we do not expect him to immediately be in a position to develop the new car. First of all, we have to start running with the new car to see where we are with it. As always, a lot depends on how competitive our new car will be. And for 2009, there’s a whole raft of new elements to take into consideration – the slick tyres, a different wheelbase, the KERS system and a completely new aero package. In all these cases, the drivers will have to work with their engineers to ensure that they are in harmony with the new car to get the maximum from the package available. This year, that will even be a challenge for the most experienced drivers on the grid.
How far away is an announcement regarding the second car?
FT: We expect to be in a position to make an announcement regarding the second driver within the next three weeks.
What factors are governing the decision?
FT: Currently we are in negotiation with Bourdais and Sato, which is no secret as they both tested for us in November and December and Sebastien raced for us last year. Both drivers are pretty closely matched. I cannot deny that any funding these drivers could bring to the team is also a factor. It is no secret that we are one of the smaller teams and even with current moves to reduce costs in Formula One, our budget is an important consideration and just like some other teams, what a driver can bring to the team financially is also a consideration. In an ideal world, we would also be looking for the quickest driver we can have.
Is it fair to assume that Bourdais and Sato are the main contenders?
FT: Yes.
Were Bourdais' performances during 2008 better than his point score suggested? Does he deserve to remain in F1?
FT: Yes, he deserves to remain in F1, because he drove some very good races and in the latter part of the season, with the exception of Singapore, he always got through to the final part of Qualifying. Overall, his performance was better than his points tally for the year would suggest.
Is Button an option?
FT: No, because he is contracted to another competitor.
Has STR set a particularly high benchmark for itself this season following its success in the latter part of 2008? Will those results be hard to follow up?
FT: Toro Rosso had a fantastic 2008 season, with the team improving all year long. At the moment, we are working as hard as possible to prepare for the coming season. As of today, it is hard to say whether we can maintain or improve on what we achieved last year. Until we have run with the new car and established how good it is, it is impossible to make an informed prognosis.
Could the random element associated with the huge technical changes that are coming in for this year work to STR’s benefit?
FT: I don’t think so, because with this major overhaul to the technical regulations, the bigger teams will be able to react much quicker than us, because we simply do not have the resources. If there is a problem with any of the new elements, the bigger teams can cope better than us. Small teams have a much easier time when there are no major changes and you have a technical status quo. History has shown that whenever there is a major change in the sport, the big teams react quickest, leaving the smaller ones to catch up.
The questions were put to Franz by Autosport magazine (www.autosport.com)