Despite Red Bull snub, Vergne set to keep Toro Rosso seat

Ruled out of contention for the big move to Red Bull, Jean-Eric Vergne’s seat at Toro Rosso for 2014 at least seems secure.

"I’m convinced that Jean-Eric Vergne will race next year for Toro Rosso," team boss Franz Tost said in Hungary.

Austrian Tost admitted Vergne’s teammate Daniel Ricciardo has sped into contention to replace Mark Webber "simply because he is more experienced" than the similarly-aged Frenchman.

"As far as I’m thinking," Tost added, "next year he (Vergne) is with Toro Rosso."

Vergne, 23, agreed, telling RMC Sport: "Whether Daniel goes to Red Bull or not, my future will be at Toro Rosso and Red Bull.

"From that side I have no problem."

He also told Austria’s Laola1: "It looks as if Red Bull believes he (Ricciardo) is the better driver.

"I can understand that if you’re only looking at the results. But I’m not going to go to Christian Horner and explain the reasons."

Vergne said he even thinks he might still have a chance of becoming Sebastian Vettel’s next teammate.

"All I can do is show my true performance, and then we’ll see if it’s too late. And I think it’s never too late.

"In my opinion we’re on a par."

Asked if he was disappointed when Red Bull called Ricciardo up to test at Silverstone and not him, Vergne insisted: "Not at all.

"It was logical, because Red Bull thought he is more consistent than I am.

"As I said, he is a year ahead of me, and the team knows him so very well. Together with everything, it tipped the balance for him."