Alguersuari Aiming for Webber's Job in 2012

Jaime Alguersuari signed a one-year extension to his current deal with Scuderia Toro Rosso, but his real aim is to make the next step towards “bigger sister” team Red Bull Racing. And that's not at all unusual for a STR driver, especially since the Faenza-based team is practically a feeder outfit for Red Bull Racing.

And, since the Austrians have recently admitted their plans to build a team around German racer Sebastian Vettel, the only available spot from 2012 onwards would have to be the one left by Mark Webber. The Australian's deal with Red Bull runs out at the end of 2011 and, with the tension between him and Vettel having built up throughout the 2010 campaign, it's unlikely that the Australian will spend another year at Milton Keynes.

Under the circumstances, Alguersuari's target becomes pretty simple. With only one spot available within Red Bull from 2012 onwards, Webber's job is the only one he'll be interested in starting 2011.

“I will not deny that it is very appealing,” said the Spaniard in a recent interview with Diario Sport, as reported by the GMM news agency. “There is no doubt that it is the place I want to be.”

“For me, Red Bull and Toro Rosso are the same family, and they've supported me since I was 15, and trusted me for their formula one programme when I had no experience. I would rather win a title with Red Bull than with McLaren or Ferrari, because it's the team close to my heart, people who have helped me all the way,” he added.

For the time being, Alguersuari can enjoy his contract extension with STR-Ferrari, which is not what we can say about his teammate Sebastien Buemi. The Swiss driver is currently in the rumor mill about a potential loss of seat, his reported replacement being Australian racer Daniel Ricciardo, current Red Bull test driver and runner-up in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series.