Following the news that Daniel Ricciardo had been confirmed at Red Bull Racing for 2014 attention quickly turned to who will replace him at Toro Rosso.
With Red Bull opting to promote from within and allow Australian Daniel Ricciardo to follow in the footsteps of Sebastian Vettel, working through the Red Bull development programme and earning experience with the sister team before making the step-up, it now means that someone else from further down the ranks will earn a promotion within the Red Bull young driver programme.
Continuing the conveyor-belt and the very reason why Red Bull purchased the former Minardi team.
22-year-old Portuguese driver Antonio Felix da Costa and 19-year-old Spaniard Carlos Sainz junior and 19-year-old Russian Daniil Kvyat are the trio that have been linked with the seat.
Sainz junior and da Costa both impressed during the recent young driver test at Silverstone and look the favourites to partner Jean-Eric Vergne, if of course he remains at Toro Rosso after being overlooked for the drive at Red Bull.
Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost has seemingly ruled out the son of former World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz as he doesn’t yet have the experience for Formula One.
‘Carlos has to continue competing in lower formulas, win, grow and then wait to make the leap.’ he said to Spanish newspaper Marca.
He continued: ‘I don’t make the decision alone, but there are several people who will decide with is best for all. You can never say no to anything, but I don’t think Carlos will run in 2014.’
Sainz jr has remained positive following the comments adding: ‘It’s no secret that Formula 1 is my big goal and I’m moving closer to it step by step. But currently I am think about my last race in the GP3 series and beyond that my three drivers in the Formula Renault 3.5 and also Macau.’
Sainz jr not ready for step up to F1
