Buemi handed Red Bull role
January 05, 2012 12:37:18 UK
Former Toro Rosso driver Sebastien Buemi will be Red Bull's reserve driver for the 2012 season.
The 23-year-old Swiss driver has spent the last three years as part of Red Bull's feeder team but was axed at the end of the 2011 campaign after finishing 15th in the drivers' championship.
However, Red Bull's team principal Christian Horner has had a change of heart and offered him a deal with the team that has won the constructors' title for the last two years.
It was entirely logical for Sebastien to continue with Red Bull having been a member of the Junior Team since 2004.
Christian Horner
"It was entirely logical for Sebastien to continue with Red Bull having been a member of the Junior Team since 2004. He already knows the team well from his time with us in 2008 and has gained significant race experience over the past three years," said Horner.
"He will complete important test and simulation work for us throughout the year and will be in attendance at each grand prix."
Buemi will act as back-up to Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber in 2012. Vettel is 3.75 to win the drivers' title this year while Webber can be backed at 26.00. Meanwhile, Red Bull are 2.75 to win the constructors' title.
Toro Rosso have replaced Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari with Australian Daniel Ricciardo and Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne for the forthcoming season.
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