Scott Speed and Vitantonio Liuzzi have expressed confidence that they will retain their Toro Rosso race seats in 2007.
The Faenza based team is notably the last in formula one to confirm its driver plans for the new season, amid speculation that a pay-driver like Tiago Monteiro could be signed to help STR co-owner Gerhard Berger pay his share of the bills.
Asked about the announcement delay, however, Californian Speed – who according to rumours is the more likely of the pair to lose his seat – said he was sure he would line up alongside Liuzzi on the Albert Park grid in March.
“To me it has always been clear that I would race,” the 23-year-old told the German website f1total.com, also rejecting theories that Toro Rosso is making a last-minute bid to extract Sebastien Bourdais from his Champ Car contract.
“I have signed a full time contract.”
Speed added: “I don’t know why they haven’t confirmed it yet, but I am sure that Gerhard has a reason.”
Italian Liuzzi sounded a more cautious note, but generally agreed that a Liuzzi-Speed lineup is most likely for 2007.
He told the Italian website f1grandprix.it: “I’m pretty sure I’ll stay in the team, but I don’t know why they still don’t want to confirm.
“But after all, the team is theirs, so this kind of decision is up to them.”
GMMF1
DailyF1News.com
