New Toro Rosso driver Jean-Eric Vergne has suggested that he understands the reasons for Red Bull's aggressive and often unfair approach to their young drivers, saying that he would be as ruthless were he in charge.
Vergne was a big beneficiary of the ruthlessness of the Red Bull driver policy this year, having secured a Toro Rosso race drive for 2012.He and fellow youngster Daniel Ricciardo will both be promoted to the Toro Rosso team next season, with both Jaime Algersuari and Sebastien Buemi being dismissed.
Many found the shock move unfair on at least one of the deposed drivers, with the cull following the Red Bull programme dropping the likes of Tonio Liuzzi, Scott Speed and Christian Klien in the past.
But while Vergne admitted that the Red Bull programme is "hard" on the drivers, he suggested that it was the right way to try and find talent.
"Toro Rosso's policy is to develop young drivers," he told the Auto Hebdo publication in France, "I think Jaime and Sebastien did a great job, but they were no longer a part of this policy."
He added: "It is true that [Red Bull motorsport advisor] Helmut Marko is hard on his drivers, but I've always said that if I was him, I would do it exactly the same.
"I have always known that if I was not good enough, I would not be there."
The futures of Alguersuari and Buemi are now unclear, with very few seats still available for next season.
Buemi seems certain to miss out on a drive, while Alguersuari was linked with a switch to Spanish squad HRT, something that the new boss of the team Luis Perez-Sala doubted earlier this week.
A further, and slightly odd rumour from Spanish sports newspaper AS has suggested that Alguersuari might be snapped up by Mercedes as a third driver for 2012.
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