Toro Rosso confirm Jaime Alguersuari

After a period of some uncertainty, Toro Rosso has finally confirmed that Jaime Alguersuari will team up alongside Sebastien Buemi this year to make it an unchanged line-up.

“Considering that he made his debut only halfway through 2009 - at the Hungarian Grand Prix - with no prior testing, he did a good job, making steady progress throughout the second half of the year, with a mature approach considering he is still only 19 years old,” commented Team Principal, Franz Tost.

“This season, he will again face a steep learning curve, as all the circuits in the first part of the season will be new to him. Jaime’s appointment also confirms our team’s commitment to bringing on graduates of the Red Bull Young Driver Programme.”

The 2008 British F3 champion made eight F1 starts last year but recorded just three finishes, his best result being 14th at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

In Bahrain Alguersuari will start his second season in Formula One and it is the first time that he repeats a category in three years.

"I was asked to debut in F1 right after turning 19," Alguersuari explained. "I did not hesitate. Today they ask me to [contest] the F1 World Championship in 2010 and this is the best news I have received in my life.

"Now I am ready: physically, mentally and emotionally. Now I have a few more kilometres in F1 and the race in Bahrain will be very different from Hungary. My message to the fans, my friends, my family and of course to my bosses at Red Bull is this: The best Jaime will come this year."