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Toro Rosso 'among first five teams'

ESPNF1 Staff
March 23, 2011 « Sakon Yamamoto gets Virgin role | »
Sebastien Buemi is under pressure to deliver for Toro Rosso this season © Sutton Images
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Sebastien Buemi is confident that Toro Rosso will make a strong start to the season, saying that the team has moved closer to the front.

The new STR6 features an innovative double floor, and has been impressive during pre-season testing. While Jaime Alguersuari had previously played down the car's potential, team-mate Buemi was more optimistic.

"No, honestly it looks pretty competitive," Buemi told Le Matin. "We seem to be among the first five teams, based on the hierarchy of the winter testing. But since the regulations have changed significantly, the scope for development is strong at the beginning of the season, so things may have changed seriously by Australia."

The pressure is on both Buemi and Alguersuari to perform this season, with reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo waiting in the wings. And Toro Rosso's former co-owner Gerhard Berger says the young Australian deserves an opportunity.

"Ricciardo has earned this chance," Berger told Kleine Zeitung. "If the two race drivers do not do enough, I hope Ricciardo gets the chance to step in for one of them."

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