Vergne on his own to keep motor racing career alive

  • Published on 19 Sep 2014 12:13
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Jean-Eric Vergne has been left alone to keep his motor racing career on track. After three seasons with the secondary team Toro Rosso, the Frenchman was overlooked by Red Bull last year when his teammate Daniel Ricciardo got the call to replace retiring Mark Webber.

Less than a year older than 24-year-old Vergne, Australian Ricciardo has humbled quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel in 2014. And in stark contrast, Vergne has been left without a seat at all for 2015, as Toro Rosso looks to the future with the ultra-young lineup of Daniil Kvyat and teen Max Verstappen. "They (Red Bull) have a young driver programme that they need to promote," said Vergne in Singapore. "That's how it is," he told F1's official website.

But when Kvyat swept in from GP3 for 2014, Toro Rosso hopeful Antonio Felix da Costa nonetheless remained under Red Bull's wing and was placed with BMW in the DTM series. Similarly, with Verstappen now set to debut, Renault World Series leader Carlos Sainz is still being looked after by Red Bull.

Not Vergne. At approaching 25, he has been deemed 'too old' for Red Bull. "Funny, isn't it?" he said. "Now it becomes clear that we don't need all these other series before breaking into F1 -- now we know that you can jump almost immediately from go-karting to F1. And you better start go-karting before six years of age," Vergne added.

If Vergne sounds slightly doleful, it might be because he is being dropped by Red Bull altogether. "True," he confirmed. "I have no management right now. I am alone right now to sort out my options. I know I probably should get somebody, but right now 99 per cent I am on my own. That's how it is."

Over the last few races of the 2014 season, then, Vergne will not only have to race his Toro Rosso, but also trudge up and down the paddock to see if there is a seat elsewhere for next season. "These are things that I do, but I don't want to talk about it," he confirmed. "But there is no help from Red Bull. My paramount focus right now is to finish the season on a high." (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2 2024
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia
5 - Apr 7 2024
Japan
19 - Apr 21 2024
China
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America
17 - May 19 2024
Italy
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco
7 - Jun 9 2024
Canada
21 - Jun 23 2024
Spain
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary
26 - Jul 28 2024
Belgium
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22 2024
Singapore
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America
25 - Oct 27 2024
Mexico
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America
29 - Dec 1 2024
Qatar
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2 2024
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7 2024
19 - Apr 21 2024
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19 2024
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9 2024
21 - Jun 23 2024
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28 2024
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22 2024
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27 2024
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1 2024
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Red Bull Racing
  • Points 3,024
  • Podiums 112
  • Grand Prix 209
  • Country NL
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (27)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), NL
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar