Vergne splits with Toro Rosso

November 27, 2014 | 11:04

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France's Jean-Eric Vergne finished 13th in the 2014 drivers' title race won by Lewis Hamilton in the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.

Toro Rosso's French driver Jean-Eric Vergne. (AFP/Nelson Almeida)

PARIS: France's Jean-Eric Vergne will no longer be driving for Toro Rosso next season, he announced on Wednesday (Nov 26).

The 24-year-old leaves the Italian Formula One team after three seasons and 58 Grand Prix races. He revealed the split on Twitter. "Despite a good season and 22 points I'll not drive any more for Toro Rosso in 2015. Thanks for those years. Let's go for another big challenge."

Vergne finished 13th in the 2014 drivers' title race won by Lewis Hamilton in the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday. The French driver finished in the points in seven races, with a best place finish of sixth in Singapore.

He made his Toro Rosso debut in the Australian Grand Prix in 2012, teaming up with Daniel Ricciardo, before the Australian's promotion to the parent company Red Bull for the recently-ended season.

Another Toro Rosso driver, Russia's Daniil Kyvat, has moved up to Red Bull for 2015, taking over the seat vacated by four-time champion Sebastien Vettel after the German's move to Ferrari.

Carlos Sainz junior, who has been testing for Red Bull in Abu Dhabi this week, is favourite to take the vacant seat alongside Max Verstappen, according to British magazine Austosport. Sainz, 20, is the son of former world rally champion Carlos Sainz, who in January will be competing in the Dakar Rally.

AFP

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