Toro Rosso to make driver decision this month - Buemi

The signs are growing ever stronger that Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s secondary formula one team, is set to stick with its existing driver lineup for 2012.

It was believed that Jaime Alguersuari or Sebastien Buemi - or both - could be replaced by the energy drink company’s latest newcomers Daniel Ricciardo or Jean-Eric Vergne.

But Ricciardo, now in the frame for Jarno Trulli’s Caterham seat, told an Australian newspaper on Tuesday that he thinks Alguersuari and Buemi are safe for 2012.

"I don’t know what’s happening. Nothing," Swiss Buemi is quoted by Blick newspaper.

"I do know that the decision will be in December," he revealed.

The Swiss newspaper added that Frenchman Vergne is likely to remain in the Red Bull reserve role next season.

"I’m just taking it easy for a few days," Buemi explained. "I just have a date with my watch sponsor Audemars Piguet and after that I will be in the Red Bull simulator in Milton Keynes between the 11th and 14th of December.

"I am continuing to work as normal," added the 23-year-old.

Spain’s AS newspaper cited a source close to Toro Rosso’s Spanish sponsor Cepsa as believing "Alguersuari is an essential figure in the (Toro Rosso) project".

The report agreed that Buemi also looks set to be retained for 2012.