Toro Rosso hint at 2019 signing?

Toro Rosso hint at 2019 signing?

Joas van Wingerden

Thursday 6 September 2018 10:47

Toro Rosso set tongues wagging by confirming that former driver Sebastien Buemi underwent a seat fitting this week as the team's 2019 driver line-up remains shrouded in mystery. The Red Bull sister team's plans for next season are more in the air than any other team on the grid.

Pierre Gasly's promotion to Red Bull has left Toro Rosso searching for a new star, while Brendon Hartley's mediocre performances this year may well mean two seats are available.

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Helmut Marko said this week that up to 10 drivers are under consideration for Toro Rosso in 2019, whose plans may be hampered by a lack of talent emerging from their academy.

Top prospect Dan Ticktum is likely to move to Super Formula as he does not hold enough super licence points to enter F1 in 2019.

Stoffel Vandoorne has been linked with a switch from McLaren, while the likes of Esteban Ocon and Robert Kubica have also been mentioned.

However, experience could be added in the form of Buemi, who raced 55 grands prix for Toro Rosso between 2009 and 2011.

Ciao Seb! ????
Our reserve driver stopped by earlier today for another seat fit ???? pic.twitter.com/aSkTpZDYHy — Toro Rosso (@ToroRosso) September 5, 2018

Since leaving F1, Buemi has enjoyed success in other categories, winning the World Endurance Championship in 2014, Formula E in 2015-16, with victory in this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, alongside Fernando Alonso, likely to help him to another WEC title this year.