UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Buemi wants Button teammate

Swiss drive a formality

Dec.15 (GMM) Sebastien Buemi has admitted his desire to be teamed alongside Jenson Button at the Toro Rosso team in 2009.

Although not yet confirmed to debut with the second Red Bull team next year, even the 20-year-old rookie Buemi, a Swiss, admits in an interview with Switzerland's Blick that the contract is now just a formality.

"I am hoping for a strong teammate for 2009," he told the newspaper. "For, the best of all would be Button."

28-year-old Briton Button, a veteran of more than 150 grands prix, is currently exploring his options after the withdrawal from formula one of the Japanese manufacturer Honda.

Buemi admits that Button going to Toro Rosso is an outside bet, especially given the likelihood of someone buying the Brackley based team in the wake of F1's cost cutting measures.

With Buemi believed to be secure in one STR seat for 2009, contesting the second cockpit recently have been Sebastien Bourdais and Takuma Sato.

Buemi, switching to the Red Bull Racing cockpit from Monday at Jerez, believes he was the quickest Toro Rosso runner last week.

"At the test before in Barcelona I was about 3 tenths behind the experienced guys, but (at Jerez) I had Bourdais and Sato under control," he claims.

"On Tuesday and Wednesday Vettel is coming, which will be a good comparison for me. Three months ago he was better than me by two tenths, but I am in better form now because I have more experience."

The 2009 Toro Rosso, designed by Red Bull Technology but to be built at Faenza, will be ready at the end of February.

Written: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:41:10