Driver Continuity Through 2013

Scuderia Toro Rosso has announced that they will be retaining their current driver line-up of Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne for the 2013 F1 campaign. Next season will be the second for both men at the Feanza based squad, as well as their second full (Ricciardo ran a partial campaign for HRT in 2011) season in F1. 

“Both drivers have done a good job this season," Team Principal Franz Tost noted in the team's  offical press release. "Daniel joined us with a few Grands Prix under his belt and so his feedback and experience was particularly useful while Jean-Eric got up to speed, often having to deal with tracks he had never seen before. Since the summer break, both drivers have scored more points and everyone in the team has been impressed with their maturity in terms of working with the engineers and their racecraft on track.”

Tost also expressed the squad's commitment to provide both men with a more competetive car for the 2013 season.

Here are Daniel and JEV's comments regarding being retained by STR:

Daniel Ricciardo:

“I am really pumped to know that I am continuing with Scuderia Toro Rosso for another season and want to thank the team and Red Bull. There are big expectations for next year and I’m ready and willing to fulfil them. I feel I have been growing and developing as a driver and my approach to the technical side of the sport has also progressed this year, so I am sure that will serve me well in my second season with Toro Rosso. We have had quite a tough season, but despite that, I have always enjoyed a good relationship with all the guys and I am delighted at the idea of working with them for another year.”

Jean-Eric Vergne:

“I am really happy about this great news. Thank you Toro Rosso and thank you Red Bull, who have backed me since the early days of my career.  It has been a difficult season and, as a rookie, I have learned a lot, thanks to the support I got and the excellent relationship I have enjoyed with all the guys. I feel much stronger now and I know I have become a better driver over the course of the season. I really believe in this team and with all the experience I have gained, combined with the team’s ambitious plans for next year, I think we can look forward to great things in 2013, attacking all the way.”