Team co-owner Gerhard Berger has questioned Scott Speed’s “commitment” to being a grand prix driver as confirmation of the second Toro Rosso race seat still lags.
Austrian Berger, himself a former ten time winner in formula one, has stated that the 24-year-old is in “pole position” for the ride despite unspecified contractual issues that prevented his confirmation alongside Vitantonio Liuzzi at the recent launch of the new car.
Berger now tells Motorsport Aktuell magazine: “In the past weeks Tonio convinced us that he brings along the necessary commitment to complement his talent.
“The same is not yet true for Scott.”
Speed is almost certain to ultimately land the job, with rumours suggesting that the hold-up is about Toro Rosso trying to get his signature on a longer contract than he would like.
It has also been suggested that Berger, after observing that STR’s 2006 lineup attended too many parties, is trying to give Speed the impression that his seat in formula one is a privilege reserved only for the truly focused.
Speed touched down in Bahrain this week for what would be his only pre-season test before Melbourne.
GMMF1
DailyF1News.com
