Buemi nervous but Alguersuari to sit out first practice

It will be Jaime Alguersuari who gives up his Toro Rosso cockpit to promising rookie Daniel Ricciardo in the first practice session in Melbourne on Friday.

But Sebastien Buemi will take his turn on the sidelines two weeks later in Malaysia practice, confirming the immense pressure on the Red Bull-owned team’s current duo to prove they should maintain the energy drink brand’s support beyond 2011.

Both Buemi and Alguersuari said recently they welcome Australian Ricciardo’s Friday-driving input this season, but behind the scenes the mood must be different.

"It’s pretty difficult if you change the driver all the time," Swiss Buemi, who is regarded as the most likely to be ousted by Toro Rosso, has admitted, according to the AAP news agency.

"You lose time getting up to speed with them," he added, referring to new young drivers.

Buemi is officially on-notice by Red Bull’s brusque driver manager Dr Helmut Marko, who said one of the 22-year-old’s main weaknesses is nerves.

"If he can get rid of that, in 2011 we will again have a lot of fun together, as we did before," Marko is quoted as saying by Blick newspaper.

"This year Sebastien must press his talent," the Austrian insisted.

Buemi has a new chief mechanic and trainer for 2011, and has reportedly added a few new pounds of muscle.

"I am ready and cannot wait for the first practice session, because our car is good," he confirmed.