F1: 2009 Season Review

Formula 1

F1: 2009 Season Review – Toro Rosso

A look back at the Toro Rosso's 2009 Formula One Grand Prix season...

SPEED Staff | Posted November 12, 2009 Charlotte, NC

Click Here for a look back at the 2009 Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 Grand Prix season. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Scuderia Toro Rosso: Formula One Grand Prix Team

Team Principal: Franz Tost

Drivers: Sebastian Buemi, Sebastian Bourdais (Round 9), Jamie Alguersuari

Constructors Finish: 8th (8 points)

Best finish: Buemi: Seventh twice (Melbourne, Interlagos)

Poles: 0

Official Team Website: www.tororosso.com

Chassis: STR4 / Engine: Ferrari Type 056

The best outing for Red Bull’s ‘junior’ team came in the opening round in Australia when Buemi finished seventh and Sebastian Bourdais finished eighth. From there however, the momentum seemed to fade and by the ninth round, Sebastian was out and young rookie Jaime Alguersuari was in.

The team tried a major car upgrade in Hungary, but even that wasn’t enough as both drivers finished 14th and 15th.

The team suffered through Italy followed with both drivers failing to finish the following events in Singapore and Japan. Despite a late season spark of two top-10 finishes by Buemi in the final rounds, Toro Rosso finished the constructor’s standings at the bottom. Buemi finished 16th in the driver standings while Alguersuari was 24th.

2009’s results were a far cry form 2008, when the team with Sebastian Vettel won their first race and finished sixth in the constructor’s points.

While Buemi’s future with the team is secure having signed with the team for next year, whether young Alguersuari will be given an opportunity to improve remains to be seen. Toro Rosso plans on have two drivers testing for them; New Zealand youngster 19 year old Brendon Hartley along with Mirko Bortolott,i also 19, will test a Toro Rosso machine at Jerez in December.

Although many wonder about Alguersuari’s future, team boss Franz Tost hinted strongly that the outfit would field an unchanged lineup in 2010.

"I'm quite confident that from the middle of next year onwards we will have a good driver lineup, because then Alguersuari will know all the tracks and Buemi is increasing his performance already," he is quoted as saying by The Sun.

PHOTOS: Toro Rosso 2009 Formula One Grand Prix Season Review