Posted on 29th November 2014
Yesterday afternoon it was announced that Toro Rosso have taken the unusual step of having an all-rookie line-up by signing Carlos Sainz Jr as Max Verstappen’s 2015 team-mate.
In what is set to be by far the most inexperienced line-up on the grid, 20-year-old Sainz Jr will partner the teenager at Red Bull’s junior team. Sainz Jr, who tested with Red Bull at the Yas Marina circuit this week, will enter Formula 1 on the back of his World Series by Renault 3.5 Championship success.
In an interview with the media yesterday, Sainz Jr was delighted to have been given the chance to drive for the Toro Rosso team next season and thanks Red Bull for everything they have done for him. Sainz Jr stated the following:-
'I am really happy to have landed the drive with Scuderia Toro Rosso. Ever since I have been part of Red Bull’s Young Driver Programme, this has been my aim and I want to thank Red Bull for putting their faith in me.
'I have had a very successful season in World Series by Renault this year and now I am looking forward to taking the step up to Formula 1. I tested for a day with Toro Rosso last year and I liked the atmosphere in the team.
'In the next few months I will be working hard on my preparation, ready to get in the cockpit in Jerez for the first test of next year. It will be nice to make my ‘official’ debut as a Formula 1 driver in my home country!'
It is clear for all to see that Sainz Jr is happy to have received the opportunity to drive for Toro Rosso next season which has been his dream for many years and to publically thank Red Bull for everything they have done for him to get to this point in his career is great to see.
As we all know, Sainz Jr has had a very good season this year especially being crowned Formula Renault 3.5 champion after an impressive showing and also being able to test for Toro Rosso and Red Bull and showing what he can do in a Formula One car and that has paid off him for him as a result by gaining the Toro Rosso drive ahead of Jean-Eric Vergne, Alex Lynn and Pierre Gasly.
As Sainz Jr says himself, his main objective is to work on preparing himself as best as he can for his first season in Formula One by working with the team very closely and getting ready to make his testing debut in Jerez test in the new year. I am sure that Toro Rosso will be doing everything they can to make sure that he is as ready as he possibly can be.
Toro Rosso Team Principal Franz Tost has welcomed the Spaniard’s signing; believing that while his line-up may be young, they have what it takes. In his interview with the media, Tost believes that signing Sainz Jr next season is the right thing to do and is pleased with how he has progressed during his career. Tost stated the following:-
'With Carlos Sainz joining Max Verstappen in our driver line-up next year, we continue the Toro Rosso tradition of providing youngsters from the Red Bull Junior Driver Programme with their first steps in Formula 1.
'I have watched Carlos progress through the junior categories, always improving as he moved higher up the ladder, culminating in a well-deserved win in this year’s World Series.
'However, I also remember the day’s testing he did with us at Silverstone in 2013 in the STR8. He really surprised me and his engineers that day, with his mature approach and his speed.'
As Tost says himself, the Toro Rosso line up for next season will continue providing young drivers from the Red Bull programme the chance to show what they can do in Formula One. It is clear that Tost believes that the progression that Sainz Jr has made through the junior categories, especially this season in Formula Renault 3.5 and winning the series as well as his tests with the team have impressed them enough to sign him up for next season.
Even though I feel that the line up of Verstappen and Sainz Jr has the potential to move the team forward and could deliver the results that are expected of them, it could also be a line up that could deliver too. I am not saying that Verstappen or Sainz Jr are not talented enough to be there by any means because they are equally talented in their own rights.
With both of their drivers for next season being so talented and yet being so young, they will be expected to make mistakes in their first rookie season in the sport. However, you could argue that in the case of both of the drivers that they could have gained from having more experience in the junior formulae that will help them settle into Formula One better. The team however have decided that both drivers are ready to enter the sport and have given them the opportunity to do so and we have to respect the team's decision for making in my opinion a calculated risk that could or might not pay off for them.
But as we have seen over the past few seasons with the Red Bull Programme, if you cannot deliver when you get the chance, you are shown the door and I really hope that doesn't happen to either driver and they are provided with the adequate time to seek and reach their potential within the sport. As it would be a shame to see both drivers leaving the sport too soon without reaching their peak and showing truly what they can achieve within the sport in the process.
But overall, the news of Sainz Jr signing to Toro Rosso was expected really by pundits and fans. There is no question that he is talented enough to be there and has the potential to succeed in Formula One.
Sainz Jr this season has took advantage of the opportunities he has been given and has delivered the goods.
He has now the opportunity to achieve his dream which is to drive in Formula One with the Toro Rosso team and the spotlight will be upon him to deliver and fulfil his potential on the track and repay the faith that Toro Rosso and Red Bull have entrusted in him. And if Sainz Jr is given the time to progress and develop, there is every chance that he will deliver once more and show what he can do in a Formula One car that ultimately reflects why he has chosen as Verstappen's team mate for this season.
Sarah Jones
