Earlier this week, STR's team boss Franz Tost made on official announcement in which he confirmed Sebastien Buemi for a driving role next season. However, he did not make any suggestion that Alguersuari's seat is a done deal for 2010, which made plenty of youngsters out there hope for their big break.
New Zealand youngster Brendon Hartley is already scheduled to test for the Italian team in December this year, after previously being test/reserve driver for Red Bull Racing earlier this season. In addition, Italian teenager Mirko Bortolotti will also be given a shot at showing his potential during the aforementioned testing session, as only drivers with less than 3 GP appearances are eligible for the test.
Bortolotti was quickly seen as Italy's new hope in single-seater GP racing after making an impressive appearance during a Ferrari testing session last year. As a reward for winning the Italian F3 series, the young driver was offered a Ferrari F2008 to drive around the Fiorano track, and the results were amazing: track record at his very first experience with an F1 car.
The 19-year old driver was signed immediately by Red Bull and given a drive in the inaugural F2 championship, which he finished in 4th place.
Bortolotti is not the only champion-like driver Toro Rosso will get to see in December, as British F3 champion Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) will also step at the wheel of an F1 car at Jerez. As compared to the other drivers, he'll get to test for Red Bull Racing, consequently driving the Red Bull RB5.
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