Jaime: RBR went back on their word

Tuesday 7th February 2012

Jaime: RBR went back on their word

Jaime: RBR went back on their word

Jaime Alguersuari claims Red Bull went back on their word regarding his Toro Rosso race seat and also dismissed Williams as a team who only employs "pay" drivers.

The 21-year-old Spaniard and former team-mate Sebastien Buemi are without drives for this season after the Faenza-based squad decided to promote Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.

The axed duo have previously admitted that the decision took them by surprise, and Alguersuari has now taken things a step further by revealing the team "verbally" confirmed him at the final grand prix of the 2011 season.

"When Red Bull Racing told me on December 13th that I would no longer be racing for them, I said that I was not going to judge them. There was no drama and I did not feel like a victim. But let me say just one thing: they hurt me and it was unnecessary," he said in a Q&A on his website.

He added: "They verbally confirmed me during the Brazilian GP.

"That same weekend I rejected a very good offer after receiving this confirmation from Red Bull and STR.

"Neither I nor anyone else will ever understand why having largely fulfilled all expectations that the team asked for, having improved my position from 2010 and having beaten my team-mate, I was ceased on December 14th when there was no time to search for an option for 2012."

Alguersuari was linked with a move to HRT after he was dumped by Toro Rosso, but he says he never seriously considered them.

"When I found out about Red Bull's decision in December I contacted Luis Pérez-Sala, my friend and mentor since I raced in Formula Renault 1600 Italia," he revealed.

"We both had the same feeling. HRT does not have a car for me today and I cannot liquidate my heritage at my age fighting to improve a car, which of course will be far behind on the grid.

"HRT is not an option for me now. I cannot bear to be penultimate in the grid every race."

He also dismissed Williams as an option, saying: "To be honest I never thought about Williams. Today, they only need drivers that pay."

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