Alguersuari admits Buemi seat not secure

Jaime Alguersuari has backed his Toro Rosso teammate but acknowledged that Sebastien Buemi’s race seat might be in doubt for the 2011 season.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo is Red Bull’s leading junior driver, and he impressed the F1 world with his pace in the title-winning RB6 during the recent Abu Dhabi test.

At the same time, Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost - whilst praising young Spaniard Alguersuari - admitted that Swiss racer Buemi "struggled" at times this year.

Alguersuari, 20, was asked if he thinks Ricciardo might replace Buemi as his teammate in 2011 at Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s junior team.

"I don’t know what will happen," he is quoted by Diario AS newspaper at an event to unveil the Red Bull prototype car for the Gran Turismo 5 video game.

Alguersuari added: "What I can say is that if my teammate (Buemi) had driven a Red Bull, he would do better than Ricciardo. Without a doubt."

Meanwhile, Tost has issued fulsome praise for Alguersuari’s progress this year, indicating that his place for 2011 is secure.

"Jaime has this year learned to set up and develop and drive the car. Now I’m looking forward to next season, when we will have a much more mature driver who is constantly improving," the Austrian is quoted by El Mundo Deportivo.

Alguersuari replied: "I’m very proud of what he said because I think I have improved this year and I intend to keep going that way."