Race Incident » Sebastien Buemi

Buemi loses both front wheels under braking

admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 08:39:25 +0000

Sebastien Buemi, Scuderia Toro Rosso, had one of the most bizarre accidents I’ve seen this morning during the first free practice for the Chinese Grand Prix. Under braking both his front wheels just snaps off and leaves the car!

And since the FIA are very good at removing Youtube videos, here’s a still frame of the incident.

Sebastien Buemi confirmed for STR

admin — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:23:18 +0000

Sebastien Buemi has now finally been confirmed for a 2009 race seat at Scuderia Toro Rosso after months of him being as close to confirmed one can be without actually being it.

“I am naturally very happy to be driving for Scuderia Toro Rosso this year,” said Buemi. “Being a Formula 1 driver has always been my target, since I first started racing. This year, 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. I want to thank them for this opportunity and for all the help they have given me in my career, dating back to 2005.”

Berger confirms Buemi for 2009 Scuderia Toro Rosso seat

admin — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:40:52 +0000

Scuderia Toro Rosso has yet to announce its lineup for 2009. That didn’t stop former co-owner and team boss Gerhard Berger for naming Buemi as one of the 2009 drivers in Swiss magazine Blick though. In the magazine he said:

“I personally made the right decision I think at the right time to sell my shares. And for 2009 the team has a good and fast driver in Buemi indeed.”

Sebastien Buemi has been running very quick in the winter tests so far and has been all but confirmed for the seat. The question remains as to who he will have as team mate. Race Incident thinks Sebastien Bourdais is worth a second season but if it boils down to who can bring the most money they will probably look elsewhere. Bruno Senna is probably a marketer’s dream.

Pantano’s not too happy about his F1 chances

admin — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:10:34 +0000

This year’s GP2 champion, 29 year old Giorgio Pantano is upset by the lack of attention he’s getting from the Formula 1 teams.

“I challenge anyone to produce a resume as mine”, he told Autosprint.

So what does Pantano have in his resume, you might ask? How about this:

1993 – Winner of the European Kart Cup, Italian Championship and the Rainbow Trophy (unofficial World Championship for Cadets) in karting

1994 – Italian champion and winners of the Five Continents Cup in karting

1995 – European Formula A champion in karting

1996 – European Formula A champion and second in the World Cup in karting

1997 – Third in Formula Super A World Championship

1998 – Second in the Formula Super A World Cup

1999 – Third in the Formula Super A World Cup

2000 – German Formula 3 Champion

2002 – Second in the Formula 3000 championship

2003 – Third in the Formula 3000 championship

2004 – 14 races for Jordan in Formula 1

2007 – GP2 champion

Pantano argues that Sebastien Buemi and Bruno Senna is now competing for Formula 1 seats without having accomplished nothing much. While he has a point, they are also much younger than Pantano and might have a very bright future ahead of him. Getting a second chance in Formula 1 at 30 might be hard when the F1 teams are looking at 20 year olds.

If Pantano doesn’t make it to Formula 1 in 2009 he will be the first GP2 champion who won’t be on the grid the year after they won the championship. The previous champions are so far Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton and Timo Glock — all in F1.

I think it’s time for Pantano to look west. In 2005 he did two road courses races in the IRL for Chip Ganassi. In his second race he qualified second and finished in fourth. The Ganassi team should be aware of his potential.

Webber’s broken leg gives youngsters opportunities

admin — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:39:11 +0000

Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber is going to miss out on probably all winter testing after his bike vs. car incident a few days back. This unfortunate event will be something positive for two of the youngsters from the Red Bull Driver Development Program. New Zealand’s Brendon Hartley and Switzerland’s Sebastien Buemi will take over the wheel of the Red Bull RB4 from Webber during testing at Jerez on December 15-17.

Sebastien Buemi will drive all three days while Hartley will drive the first day and then switch with Red Bull Racing’s new driver Sebastian Vettel. Buemi is rumoured to be in the running for a 2009 race seat with Scuderia Toro Rosso, so extra seat time to prove himself in a Formula 1 car might not be too bad for him.