Buemi confident over new car debut

The 20-year-old, who topped the timesheets at Jerez yesterday on his final day of running in the 2008-specification Toro Rosso, says that progress on the build of the new car in the team's Faenza base is progressing well.

The team are hoping to have the car, which is based on Red Bull's new RB5, ready in time for a private test at the nearby Adria circuit on March 3-6.

"I'm really excited," Buemi told autosport.com. "I'm looking forward to testing the new car. We are pushing really hard - we just made the chassis and it looks good. Hopefully it will be ready soon and I am looking forward to it.

"I have run behind Sebastian Vettel in the rain on Tuesday and behind Mark Webber today and the new Red Bull looks fast."

Buemi is also pleased that the team have opted for Sebastien Bourdais as his teammate, believing that the Frenchman's experience will help him develop as a driver during the season.

"He was with the team last year and he has got a lot of experience so I will have to learn as much as I can from him from the beginning of the season," said Buemi. "Then I will try to be faster than him - this has to be the objective!

"It's good for the team to have a bit of stability. Now everyone knows who the second driver is we can push for Melbourne."

The Swiss driver was happy with his final day of testing at Jerez, during which he completed his first full race simulation.

"It was a good day," he said. "We did a a race simulation with qualifying and everything. It was important for me to do it once before the season. I was quite happy with it."