Red Bull have confirmed Antonio Felix da Costa and Sebastien Buemi as their reserve drivers for 2014.
With the return of mid-season testing to Formula One next season, Red Bull have opted for a mix of experience and potential amongst their reserve drivers with highly rated Antonio Felix da Costa who narrowly missed out on the seat at Toro Rosso to Daniil Kvyat partnering former Toro Rosso driver Sebastien Buemi.
‘It’s great to be able to announce the signing of Sebastien and Antonio for 2014. Next year sees the biggest change to the Formula One regulations for some time and the return of multiple in-season tests. To therefore be able to call on two such capable drivers is of huge benefit to the team. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told Sky Sports.
‘In Sebastien we have a great resource, a driver with extensive grand prix experience and that will be invaluable. Antonio, on the other hand, is an up-and-coming talent with whom we already have a good working relationship. I’m sure that his contribution will be just as important during what is sure to be an intensely busy season.’
22-year-old Portuguese driver Antonio Felix da Costa finished third in the 2013 Formula Renault 3.5 championship, behind eventual champion Kevin Magnussen who will make the step up to McLaren next season and Stoffel Vandoorne a 21-year-old Belgian and member of McLaren’s Young Driver Programme.
Sebastien Buemi is still relatively young at the age of 25, he made his debut in Formula One in 2009 and raced 55 Grand Prix for Toro Rosso scoring 29 points during three seasons.
After being dropped at the end of 2011 he joined Toyota Racing as part of their World Endurance Championship team and raced during this years Le Mans 24 Hours coming second in the LMP1 category.
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