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Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne has spent the last three season driving for the Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula 1 team. Taking to Sky Sports F1, Vergne said he thinks he has a place in F1.
Red Bull published devastating news for Vergne in August when it announced the arrival of 17-year-old Max Verstappen at Toro Rosso in 2015, assuming that the Frenchman would leave the team.
In Belgium, Vergne told the press “I'm too old at 24', adding he could not understand why Red Bull chose a 17-year-old rookie to drove for Toro Rosso.
“I don't want to understand it. People have their reasons; the same way as I don't want to understand how he [Verstappen] could get the Super Licence,” said Vergne.
“ If Red Bull put him in the car they think he's good, he's talented and he only has to show it in the car. As a team, Toro Rosso are right to put him in the car to give him as much mileage as possible.
“All I understand is that Toro Rosso is there with Red Bull-backing, which is a team to promote young drivers. And it stands that after three years you're not really a young driver anymore and that they need to keep feeding the programme with young drivers. That's what I understand,” he added.
His former teammate Daniel Ricciardo was promoted to Red Bull Racing.
“I think the reason they picked up Daniel [Ricciardo] was because he was probably more ready mentally and he was probably doing less mistakes. Now, all I know is that they need to promote young drivers, they take me out and I don't fit anywhere because there is simply no place in the Red Bull programme,” Vergne continued.
Vergne confessed he ran a strong race in Singapore, taking 6th place to equal his best result in F1. Could that save his career?
“I really think I have my place in F1; when you look at what Daniel [Ricciardo] is doing, and when you compare ourselves the last two years, we were extremely similar and it was so tight between him and me to go to Red Bull. So that means I have the potential; I came through many difficult moments in F1, you know. I'm sure that when I will have a good car, I will be extremely strong I believe...strong in my head,” he continued.
The Frenchman admits that finding a good seat for 2015 will be difficult.
“I mean that the situation is as it is. I'm not a superstar; I've never won a race in F1. Even if I know - and people know - that I can make it, to be in big teams there is a big board of people to decide, that are not probably in the paddock; that just want to have a big name in their car. So it's a little bit tricky you know?” he asked.
When Sky Sports F1 asked him would you have done anything differently, Vergne replied, “No, I don't want to have regrets. I think I've done mistakes that have helped me to be a better driver and that's how it is.”
Red Bull published devastating news for Vergne in August when it announced the arrival of 17-year-old Max Verstappen at Toro Rosso in 2015, assuming that the Frenchman would leave the team.
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| Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso, at Monza. (Photo: WRI2) |
In Belgium, Vergne told the press “I'm too old at 24', adding he could not understand why Red Bull chose a 17-year-old rookie to drove for Toro Rosso.
“I don't want to understand it. People have their reasons; the same way as I don't want to understand how he [Verstappen] could get the Super Licence,” said Vergne.
“ If Red Bull put him in the car they think he's good, he's talented and he only has to show it in the car. As a team, Toro Rosso are right to put him in the car to give him as much mileage as possible.
“All I understand is that Toro Rosso is there with Red Bull-backing, which is a team to promote young drivers. And it stands that after three years you're not really a young driver anymore and that they need to keep feeding the programme with young drivers. That's what I understand,” he added.
 |
| Dr Helmut Marko and Jean-Eric Vergne. (Photo: WRi2) |
His former teammate Daniel Ricciardo was promoted to Red Bull Racing.
“I think the reason they picked up Daniel [Ricciardo] was because he was probably more ready mentally and he was probably doing less mistakes. Now, all I know is that they need to promote young drivers, they take me out and I don't fit anywhere because there is simply no place in the Red Bull programme,” Vergne continued.
Vergne confessed he ran a strong race in Singapore, taking 6th place to equal his best result in F1. Could that save his career?
“I really think I have my place in F1; when you look at what Daniel [Ricciardo] is doing, and when you compare ourselves the last two years, we were extremely similar and it was so tight between him and me to go to Red Bull. So that means I have the potential; I came through many difficult moments in F1, you know. I'm sure that when I will have a good car, I will be extremely strong I believe...strong in my head,” he continued.
 |
| Jean-Eric Vergne fighting with teammate Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso. (Photo: WRi2) |
The Frenchman admits that finding a good seat for 2015 will be difficult.
“I mean that the situation is as it is. I'm not a superstar; I've never won a race in F1. Even if I know - and people know - that I can make it, to be in big teams there is a big board of people to decide, that are not probably in the paddock; that just want to have a big name in their car. So it's a little bit tricky you know?” he asked.
When Sky Sports F1 asked him would you have done anything differently, Vergne replied, “No, I don't want to have regrets. I think I've done mistakes that have helped me to be a better driver and that's how it is.”