Jaime Alguersuari had a storming drive from eighteenth on the grid to finish seventh in Monza today, recording his best ever result as an F1 driver.
His Toro Rosso team-mate Sebastien Buemi brought the car home tenth to give the Italian team their third double-points finish of the season.
“I am very happy with my race today,” said Alguersuari. “I think I would like to start even further back on the grid for the next one, because it seems that whenever I have a poor grid position, I finish in the points! I am also very pleased for the team, as they got both cars home in the points.
“I am a bit surprised at the way the car performance came good on Sunday in the race, because I did not expect to be quicker than Force India and Sauber. Getting this great result at our home race, also makes it extra special. We need to keep on working like this and try and improve our qualifying performance on Saturday. If we do that, I think we can finish in the points on a regular basis.”
Buemi was not as pleased with his finishing position, particularly after loosing ninth place to a fast charging Bruno Senna right at the end of the grand prix.
“I am bit disappointed with the way the race panned out,” said the Swiss driver. “I made a very good start, but then when an HRT triggered a big accident, I took a knock at the back of my car and it was definitely damaged in some way, as it did not work at its maximum potential from then on.
“If that had not happened, maybe I could have finished ninth or eighth. But while tenth is therefore a bit disappointing, losing out to Senna right at the end, when he was on the Soft tyre and I was on the Medium, it's time to look ahead and think about doing better in two weeks time in Singapore.”
Team principal Franz Tost said that this result was excellent for Toro Rosso in terms of the Constructors’ Championship and is hoping that they can carry this form into the remaining six races of 2011.
“Our home track always appears to be a lucky one for us, because we seem to finish regularly in the points here at Monza,” remarks Tost. “Jaime's seventh place finish was the best result of his Formula 1 career and it was the team's best so far this season and a good result overall as we got both cars home in the points, with Sebastien Buemi tenth past the flag. The points we got today see us close the gap to both Force India and Sauber in the Constructors' Championship.
“Jaime drove an excellent race, making up eleven places from his grid position. He was especially quick on his second set of tyres, putting in one fastest lap after another. Sebastien was lucky to finish the race, after being involved in a collision when he clipped another car with the left rear tyre.
“Well done to the entire team, who delivered a good strategy and executed it well during the race. This was a good way to end the European leg of the season and I am now looking forward to seeing if we can continue like this in the remaining six races of the championship.”
