Vettel replaces Scott Speed at STR - official

True to the rumours, Sebastian Vettel will indeed replace Scott Speed at Toro Rosso for the rest of the 2007 season.

The Faenza based team, and 20-year-old Vettel's now former employer BMW-Sauber, confirmed the news with separate official statements on Tuesday. Starting in Hungary this year, the German "will drive for the team in all the remaining rounds of the 2007 FIA formula one world championship" alongside Vitantonio Liuzzi, Toro Rosso said.

Vettel is a long term protege of the Red Bull Junior Team since his karting days at the age of 12, but his career has jointly been guided by BMW through Formula BMW and Formula 3.

BMW-Sauber's test and reserve driver so far in 2007, the Munich manufacturer confirmed on Tuesday that it is "allowing Sebastian Vettel to take the step into a formula one (race) cockpit."

Secondary test driver Timo Glock now moves into Vettel's reserve role, and despite leading the GP2 championship would forgo a race in the support category should he have to replace either Nick Heidfeld or Robert Kubica, BMW said. BMW boss Mario Theissen commented: "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." (GMM)