From GMM
Jaime Alguersuari's formula one debut with Scuderia Toro Rosso is being powered by sponsorship from two major Spanish companies.
It is expected that Toro Rosso will announce next Monday that the 19-year-old Spaniard is to be Sebastien Bourdais' replacement for the Hungarian grand prix and beyond.
Spanish media claim he is backed by the oil company Repsol as well as La Caixa, Spain's leading savings bank.
Press sources claim the companies are advancing 2 million euros to the Faenza based team, guaranteeing Alguersuari the race seat for the forthcoming Hungarian and European grands prix.
Even if Toro Rosso decides to oust the rookie after Valencia, the team is able to keep the Spanish sponsorship funds, the newspaper Diario AS said.
Former Spanish F1 racer and Ferrari test driver Marc Gené is reportedly a close friend of Alguersuari, but he believes the youngster is facing "the most difficult debut in the history" of the sport.
"Jaime is ready, but there are lot of factors playing against him," the 2009 Le Mans winner told Spain's Diario Sport.
He said the testing ban means Alguersuari has not done any proper circuit testing at all in F1 machinery, while Hungary is one of the "most difficult" circuits on the calendar.
photo:Red Bull - Getty Images
Jaime Alguersuari's formula one debut with Scuderia Toro Rosso is being powered by sponsorship from two major Spanish companies.
It is expected that Toro Rosso will announce next Monday that the 19-year-old Spaniard is to be Sebastien Bourdais' replacement for the Hungarian grand prix and beyond.
Spanish media claim he is backed by the oil company Repsol as well as La Caixa, Spain's leading savings bank.
Press sources claim the companies are advancing 2 million euros to the Faenza based team, guaranteeing Alguersuari the race seat for the forthcoming Hungarian and European grands prix.
Even if Toro Rosso decides to oust the rookie after Valencia, the team is able to keep the Spanish sponsorship funds, the newspaper Diario AS said.
Former Spanish F1 racer and Ferrari test driver Marc Gené is reportedly a close friend of Alguersuari, but he believes the youngster is facing "the most difficult debut in the history" of the sport.
"Jaime is ready, but there are lot of factors playing against him," the 2009 Le Mans winner told Spain's Diario Sport.
He said the testing ban means Alguersuari has not done any proper circuit testing at all in F1 machinery, while Hungary is one of the "most difficult" circuits on the calendar.
photo:Red Bull - Getty Images