> Vettel replaces Speed at Toro Rosso

Sebastian Vettel will leave BMW Sauber to replace Scott Speed at Scuderia Toro Rosso with immediate effect, it was announced on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old German has been released from his third driver contract by BMW and will take American driver Speed's race seat for the remainder of the current season from this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

Vettel, who became F1's youngest point-scorer when he stood in for Robert Kubica at the US Grand Prix, has been backed by STR owners Red Bull since the age of 12 and had been strongly linked to a drive at the team in recent weeks.

BMW boss Mario Theissen announced that the German carmaker would not block the move as it did not want to harm the young star's development.

“As our test and reserve driver Sebastian has carried out sterling work for us,” Theissen said.

“When he stood in for Robert Kubica in the USA Grand Prix he made history by becoming the youngest debutant to earn a world championship point.

“However, the current testing rules mean that he barely gets a chance to drive for us.

“Now he has been offered the opportunity to get inside a Toro Rosso cockpit.

“We have sponsored and coached Sebastian over a number of years.

“To place obstacles in his career path now would go against our concept of talent promotion.”

Theissen added that Vettel's strong Red Bull links made the decision to release him straightforward.

“BMW and Red Bull have a longstanding partnership in supporting Sebastian," he said.

"Toro Rosso is the sister team of Red Bull Racing, and in that context it makes sense for us to release him.

"In a sponsoring partnership the main thing is to use the best opportunities that present themselves to a young driver at any given time.”

Speed's departure brings to an end a turbulent relationship with STR after making his F1 debut with the team at the start of the 2006 season.

The relationship fractured further during the European Grand Prix weekend when reports suggested that the American would lose his drive immediately in the wake of a row with team boss Franz Tost.

Speed had become increasingly outspoken about his relationship with Tost and STR co-owner Gerhard Berger, revealing following the Nurburgring race that he had resigned himself to losing his drive and that both he and team-mate Tonio Liuzzi had received little support from the pair.

Source: itv-f1