Buemi and Felix da Costa reserve drivers for Red Bull in 2014
Red Bull Racing has decided to retain Sébastien Buemi in his role as test and reserve driver for a third consecutive year. The Swiss driver will be supported by Portuguese Antonio Felix da Costa.
The Infiniti Red Bull Racing team recently unveiled the names of its test and reserve drivers for the 2014 season. Sébastien Buemi, the team’s third driver since 2012, has been extended for an additional year.
Present in the Red Bull fold in F1 since 2008, the Swiss driver therefore continues the adventure. His first connections to F1 were forged through his role as a test and reserve driver for Red Bull in 2008, before being offered a full-time seat at Toro Rosso between 2009 and 2011. He was then relegated back to a test role for not having sufficiently convinced Red Bull – and he also ventured into endurance racing with Toyota since 2012.
Alongside Buemi, Antonio Felix da Costa will be present – who, following a disappointing season in Formula Renault 3.5, saw Daniil Kvyat take the second Toro Rosso seat alongside Jean-Eric Vergne. The Portuguese driver won’t be out of place either, as he has already served in the role of test and reserve driver on several occasions, filling in for Sébastien Buemi’s absence during various rounds of the World Endurance Championship (WEC). Felix da Costa also had the opportunity to drive the RB9 during the young driver tests held at Silverstone in July.
The director of the Austrian team, Christian Horner, expressed his delight at the appointment of the two men who will play a role in helping the team retain its titles in 2014: « It is pleasing to announce the signing of Sébastien and Antonio for 2014. Next year will witness the largest regulatory changes in Formula 1 for some time, along with the return of several in-season testing sessions. Thus, being able to rely on two such talented drivers is a huge benefit for the team. »
