Bortolotti to Replace Alguersuari at Toro Rosso?

Each day that passes by brings even more uncertainly in the Jaime Alguersuari situation at Scuderia Toro Rosso. It's not rocket science to figure out that the problem with his contract extension is strictly related to sponsorship money, something that the young Spaniard seems to find very difficult latelly.

However, should his management crew fail to deliver the needed sponsorship in the next few days, it's likely that the Faenza-based bosses will start looking elsewhere for a second driver in 2010. And one of the directions they may look at is Italian teenager Mirko Bortolotti.

The young Italian driver, who is to turn 20 on January 10th, may receive a great gift for his birthday. He was part of the Toro Rosso young drivers' lineup in the latest Jerez testing, where he scored some decent results in the time sheets (considering the car he had to drive). However, the most stunning fact on his resume regards the testing session he did with Ferrari last winter.

Being given the chance to drive around the Fiorano circuit in a Ferrari as a gift for clinching the title in the Italian F3 Series, Bortolotti broke the track record when stopping the clock at 0:59.111. It was when the Italian started to catch the eye of several managers in the motor racing business, as he quickly secured a seat in the inaugural F2 championship the very next year (2009).

Bortolotti finished his maiden campaign in F2 in 4th place overall, driving for the majority of the season for MotorSport Vision.

“We do not yet know exactly what we are going to do with Bortolotti in 2010,” Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko admitted in an interview with laola1.at, throwing even more doubt over the projected signing of Alguersuari.