Sebastien Buemi has hit back at claims he has become the driver under pressure at Toro Rosso.
Rumours in Valencia had indicated the Swiss’ teammate Jaime Alguersuari was most in danger of losing his race seat to Daniel Ricciardo after struggling to match Buemi’s pace so far in 2011.
But Spaniard Alguersuari, 21, drove strongly to two consecutive eighth places in Montreal and Valencia, triggering new speculation that it is Buemi whose future is now most in doubt.
Veteran Blick correspondent Roger Benoit revealed that Buemi has been spending time this week in Red Bull’s Milton Keynes simulator.
"I am working harder and at some point it will pay out," Buemi told the Swiss newspaper.
He insists that although Alguersuari’s race results were better in Canada and Valencia, the truth is more complex.
"I was clearly faster than Alguersuari in both qualifyings," said Buemi. "And in Valencia he had another set of tyres because he missed the first hurdle in qualifying!" he exclaimed.
"Of course I have to live with it, and what counts in the end is the speed, and I have that," added Buemi.