Ricciardo to Sign Toro Rosso Deal for 2011?

Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo might not have to wait for too long before stepping into Formula One. According to some recent reports in the German media, his incredibly fast pace in the rookie testing session in Abu Dhabi last week made the Red Bull official think twice about their strategy for 2011.

Of course, we're not talking about Red Bull Racing, but about Scuderia Toro Rosso, the Austrian company's “junior team” in Formula One. Known to be a feeder squad for Red Bull, the Faenza based organization has two purposes in the series: build a competitive car and grow talent. Becoming a title-winning squad doesn't make the cut.

Currently, the team employs Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari for the upcoming campaign of F1. While the former has signed a deal to compete for a 3rd straight season at STR, Alguersuari is tipped to complete his second full-time campaign for the team in 2011. However, speculation has once again centered on Toro Rosso's lineup, now that Ricciardo has become a tri-factor.

“We pushed Bernoldi, Klien, Liuzzi and Speed without a breakthrough. Daniel Ricciardo is the next top talent. A new Vettel? I don't know,” Red Bull's motorsport consultant Helmut Marko said in Germany's Die Welt newspaper. And we all know the influence Marko has with Red Bull's owner Dietrich Mateschitz.

Scuderia Toro Rosso's team boss Franz Tost also emphasized the importance of having a competitive car for 2011, rather than continuity within the team's lineup, hinting changes could happen in that sector in the months to come.

“Well, you never know what will happen in formula one. Our main priority is building a successful car. Regarding drivers and continuity, we will see,” said Tost, who hinted that Buemi, rather than Alguersuari, would be on the spot for a potential loss of seat.

“At the beginning of the season he (Buemi) scored points and had a really good level of performance. But at the end of the season he struggled a bit,” added the STR boss.