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F1: 2009 Red Bull switch likely for Vettel

4-17-2008

by Auto123.com

By GMM

Sebastian Vettel is likely to move from Toro Rosso to Red Bull's primary formula one team in 2009, the Swiss newspaper Blick said.

The probable move, also flagged by the energy drink outfit's motor racing advisor Helmut Marko in the British magazine Autosport this week, has been on the cards for some time.

Last year, Red Bull magnate Dietrich Mateschitz insisted that Vettel, the ever-impressive 20-year-old German, is likely to be in a Red Bull cockpit in 2009.

It also emerged recently that, while his teammate Sebastien Bourdais' contract is with Toro Rosso this year, Vettel's deal - set to run for another couple of years - is solely with Red Bull.

When asked if Vettelis set to move up to Red Bull Racing next year, Marko answered: "I think so, yes."

Surely among the favourites to replace Vettel at STR next year, alongside Red Bull test driver Sebastien Buemi, is New Zealand teenager Brendon Hartley, who recently gave the team's 2008 car its actual track debut at Varano in Italy.

Hartley, the 18-year-old with long blonde hair, is currently racing in British F3 with Red Bull sponsorship, and has moved from Austria to live with Buemi in Milton Keynes (UK), close to Red Bull Racing's base.

"I always thought I would arrive in formula one some day but never really knew how it would happen. The dream is getting closer and closer all the time now," he admitted.

Hartley also revealed that - "fingers crossed" - he will do some driving in RBR's F1 driver simulator this year.