Toro Rosso's driver shakeup too late - Keke Rosberg
Photo by: XPB Images
Feb.22 (GMM) Jaime Alguersuari has told his fans he "will return" to Formula One despite not having a seat on the 2012 grid.
Along with Sebastien Buemi, who moved to Red Bull's reserve role, Spaniard Alguersuari was dumped by the energy drink company's rookie team Toro Rosso.
A Barcelona native, the 21-year-old's fans showed their support by displaying banners as the Circuit de Catalunya test began on Tuesday.
"I did nothing wrong, but I wasn't killed either," Alguersuari told the Italian magazine Autosprint. "I'm only 21 and I did my best with the equipment I had."
One of the men who replaced Alguersuari, Daniel Ricciardo, backed Red Bull's decision to make a clean-sweep of the Toro Rosso lineup for 2012.
"The only reason they kick you out is if you are not performing. And then you probably don't deserve to be world champion," the Australian is quoted by The Sun newspaper.
"That's just the business we're in."
But Keke Rosberg, the 1982 world champion and Mercedes driver Nico's father, criticised Red Bull for not giving Alguersuari a fair chance.
"They (Alguersuari and Buemi) had been there for three years and they (Red Bull) didn't think they would go all the way to the top, so I understand if Red Bull wants to do something else.
"What I don't understand is why the decision was made so late, when there was not anything else available for them.
"If someone says in June that they no longer need your services the following year, that's fair. Then you have the time to find a new job.
"Buemi would probably have found something, if he'd have had more time," added Rosberg.
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Pirelli chief calls for radical F1 overhaul
How Honda F1 gains gave Williams its first turbo success and a Silverstone record
Top 10 Williams F1 drivers ranked: Mansell, Hill, Montoya and more
The beer and curry secret of F1's last non-points race
Wolff: Mercedes can't just keep living off F1 "bright spots"
Mercedes plans Miami F1 upgrades as Russell urges back-to-basics approach
The F1 breakthroughs Mercedes made in Japan – and what's next
Ferrari announces Miami F1 livery change to mark US anniversary
Haas F1 boss says Magnussen's Chinese GP penalty not "justifiable"
How rain and strategy spelled disaster for Ferrari in WEC Imola 6 Hours
China F1 upgrades in full, from tweaked headrests to new floors
Chinese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2024
Why Verstappen's China F1 win was a sideshow to the real battle
How the pursuit of marginal F1 gains caused Sauber's pitstop stumbles
The short-term pain that hides a very real Williams improvement
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments