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Source: Reuters -
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Swiss rookie Sebastien Buemi will race for Toro Rosso in Formula One this season, the Ferrari-powered team announced on Saturday.
Buemi, 20, competed in the GP2 support series last year and was also reserve driver for Toro Rosso's sister team Red Bull Racing.
Toro Rosso said in a statement that they would name Buemi's team mate "at some point" before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 29.
The team had two other 'Sebs' in their racing line-up last year, with Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais partnering 21-year-old Sebastian Vettel before the race-winning German moved on to the main Red Bull team.
Bourdais remains hopeful of staying on for a second season but Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso have also been testing Japan's Takuma Sato.
Buemi will be the first Swiss driver to compete in Formula One since Jean-Denis Deletraz raced without success for the Pacific Ford team in 1995.
"Our engineers have been impressed with his speed in the car and his ability to learn and progress during the testing he has carried out for us last year," said team principal Franz Tost.
"That, along with some impressive performances in GP2 was enough to convince us to give him the drive.
"His appointment also fulfils the aims of the Red Bull Junior Driver programme and meets (owner) Dietrich Mateschitz's intention to use Scuderia Toro Rosso as a showcase for young drivers the company has supported in the lower formulae," he added.
Buemi's confirmation had been flagged up by Mateschitz last month and the driver said he was delighted to be confirmed in the role.
"I will do all I can to bring home the best possible results and to show Red Bull that the confidence it has shown in me is justified," he added.
Buemi's first track outing as an official Toro Rosso driver will be in testing at the Portimao circuit in Portugal later this month.
