Scott Speed's climb through the Red Bull Young Driver's Program was a great deal more promising -- and lengthy -- than his actual Formula 1 career. As of today, the 24-year-old Californian has been replaced in his Scuderia Toro Rosso seat by former BMW test driver Sebastian Vettel. Vettel, a 20-year-old German, is highly regarded by STR half-owner Gerhard Berger, and will race in this week's Hungarian GP.
Speed's tenure has been a forgettable year-and-a-half of no results and more than a few skirmishes and crashes -- not all of which are entirely Speed's fault. Even the Red Bull cars, piloted by the much more experienced Mark Weber and David Coulthard, haven't shown too much life. The drama has been stoked by the STR team owners', Berger and Franz Tost, increasingly acidic and public comments about how displeased they are with the STR driver lineup. Things reached a nadir when, after Speed's exit from the European Grand Prix, he was physically assaulted by Tost.
Speed says he doesn't want to want to ruin his relationship with parent team Red Bull, and would work with them even if not in Formula 1 -- but he wouldn't race for STR again for any amount of money. As for the premiere motorsport category, with Speed's ouster, the record of American drivers in F1 remains, uh, nothing short of dismal.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
[Source: Daily F1]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Richard @ Jul 31st 2007 3:09PM
This is unfortunate and, I think, not a reflection on Speed's abilities at all. Perhaps more on the lack of abilities of Toro Rosso's management, who are - obviously - finding that fielding a team is not the same as driving for one.
Too bad as well in that the USA is the largest market for Mercedes, Ferrari, Toyota and Bavarian Moteren Werke - all of whom contest the F1 Constructor's Championship. Now there is no US race for 2008 - perhaps not even a Canadian one - and no US driver.
I think that the young Andretti is next in line here. Good luck son.
Don @ Jul 31st 2007 3:38PM
You don't win with terrible management and a non-supportive team.
sodamninsane @ Jul 31st 2007 3:09PM
Something everyone knew was coming, unfortunately for him he was stuck with a dead end team and terrible management. Hopefully bourdais won't be drawn in to such a terrible deal as well.
borderguy @ Aug 1st 2007 9:09AM
Speed is a decent Second Tier F1 driver cursed to be on a Third Tier F1 team.
Matt @ Jul 31st 2007 3:16PM
"...the record of American drivers in F1 remains, uh, nothing short of dismal."
Yeah I guess it is, unless you're familiar with a guy named Mario Andretti. Hello?
Brad @ Jul 31st 2007 3:24PM
I figured this was coming, if not now but certainly at year's end. Anyone that goes to STR right now is doomed to failure. Bourdais might need to rethink his decision and hold out for a ride with the parent Red Bull team.
Vinny @ Jul 31st 2007 3:35PM
I miss Minardi.
Richard @ Jul 31st 2007 5:58PM
Here! Here!
Galley @ Jul 31st 2007 6:09PM
Amen, brother!
3g @ Jul 31st 2007 3:35PM
"............the record of American drivers in F1 remains, uh, nothing short of dismal." Tread easy here as you may have overlooked someone by the name of Phil Hill who happens to be an American and is recorded as an F1 champion, as well as, a 3 time winner of the 24 hour of Le Mans and three time winner of the 12 hours of Sebring.
Nate @ Jul 31st 2007 4:23PM
How about Dan Gurney, not too shabby either...
Mr. Oak @ Jul 31st 2007 3:46PM
"The record of American drivers in F1 remains, uh, nothing short of dismal."
----------------------------------------------------------
As a longtime F1 fan, I can appreciate why this is the case and why it will continue to be this way in the forseeable future.
1). The best American drivers never really even look to F1 for a career.
2). American drivers unlike the Europeans and South Americans, have other options available to them.
3). Racing in the US, affords racers to still have some sort of family life. F1 racers for the most part are Nomads.
Bert @ Jul 31st 2007 4:37PM
Um, nomads? What do you call a 36 race schedule, with 2 extra non-race-race weekends?
It is too bad that SS won't be around. He put a good face forward for the American people, showing that they can be intelligent and not just a bunch of hill-billy backwood racing folk. He also put a good face forward for F1, largely accessible to media and fans.
hashiryu @ Jul 31st 2007 4:26PM
While I do agree that Scott sucks, He doesn't suck as hard as his team mate Liuzzi.
Anyway, looking forward to a Vettel-Bourdais line up next season. That should make for some good driving.
Josh @ Jul 31st 2007 4:30PM
I see him going and driving for the Red Bull NASCAR team, most likely replacing A.J. Allmendinger. My 2 cents at least.
thesawzall @ Jul 31st 2007 5:19PM
This is really disappointing. With F1 having so little action, you need a lot of teams/drivers/cars/countrymen to cheer for and Scott was the only American to cheer for.
slicecom @ Jul 31st 2007 5:27PM
Unfortunate that he's gone, but apparently he's a real jerk and very stubborn and hard to work with (this has been said by virtually anyone who has worked with him), so he partially brought it on himself. However he did put on a good face for the American people, and look friendly at least in public. I think that Vettel / Bourdais are / will be much better drivers than Speed / Luizzi.
norcal_racer @ Jul 31st 2007 7:26PM
Wow, glad you believe everything you hear...
Having raced against Scott and his brother Alex, the entire family is a class act - ultra competitive - but 1st class all the way.
Way to pass judgment on someone with more talent than you could ever think to possess, not to mention have no idea of who he is or where he came from...
bill @ Jul 31st 2007 6:42PM
You could stick Michael Schumacher into one of the Scuderia Toro Rotten cars, and he would find himself running at the back of the pack just like Scott Speed. The cars have been crap. The management at Toro Rosso showed a complete lack of class. They hired their drivers - they should have kept their mouths shut while running their crap cars until the end of the season and then made driver changes for 2008. Maybe they could hire Michael Waltrip away from Toyota. He is used to not qualifying for Nextel Cup races, so being guaranteed a place in the starting field would be a refreshing change.
mongo @ Jul 31st 2007 8:57PM
Mikey (W) said he'll do it, but only if the car is a two-seater. He needs the legroom, doncha noe!