Jean-Eric Vergne has confirmed reports he is set to become Toro Rosso’s new Friday driver.
It first emerged in August that the 21-year-old Frenchman would get some practice duties for the second Red Bull team once his Renault World Series campaign has ended.
"It’s almost done, we’ve been talking about it for a while," Vergne said on French-language television in Singapore last weekend.
It is believed Red Bull’s latest young hopeful will make his debut on Friday morning in Korea and then return to the wheel of the STR6 in Abu Dhabi and Brazil.
"There is no confirmation from the team yet as Eurosport seems a bit faster," he laughed.
"It will not be easy because it’s a year since I’ve been in a F1 car, but I’m there to learn and to get a good comparison with Alguersuari and Buemi."
"The main idea is to get some experience for next season," said Vergne, who is tipped to become Toro Rosso’s full-time reserve in 2012.
Vergne said he will sit out India so that Toro Rosso’s regular drivers maximise their track time on the new circuit.
He has already been spending time on Red Bull’s driver simulator, confirming that the energy drink’s main team is already looking towards 2012.
"I’ve been working on next season," he revealed.