Scott Speed in Monaco staked a claim on a longer future in formula one by impressing his Toro Rosso boss Gerhard Berger.
Former grand prix winner Berger, who owns 50 per cent of the Faenza based team, has been recently critical of the Californian, amid rumours that both Speed and Vitantonio Liuzzi are unlikely to be retained beyond 2007.
The speculation surrounding youngster Speed has even hinted at his STR exit before the current season is out, but that probability waned on Sunday when he raced conspicuously from eighteenth on the grid to ninth.
“It is the first race after which I do not have to say that I expected more,” said Berger, who clearly wasn’t referring to Liuzzi because Speed’s Italian teammate crashed on lap 2.
Berger told the news agency APA: “That was Scott’s best race for us.”
Speed was asked about the rumours surrounding his F1 future on Sunday, but he answered: “I am thinking positively and looking forward to the next race.”
