Jaime Alguersuari

Jaime Alguersuari, Toro Rosso, Hungary, 2009

Jaime Alguersuari set a new record for the youngest ever F1 driver when he made his debut in the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix.

He got the nod after Toro Rosso dropped Sebastien Bourdais from their squad halfway through the championship.

Alguersuari, like new team mate Sebastien Buemi, been part of the Red Bull driver development programme. He won the British Formula Three championship in 2008 with the backing of the energy drink company.

There was little surprise when Alguersuari remained with his Carlin team for 2009 but graduated to World Series by Renault which his father (Jaime Alguersuari Snr) helped set up. Despite getting the Toro Rosso call-up, Alguersuari dovetailed his F1 race appearances with his WSR programme for the rest of the year.

Given his almost total lack of F1 experience before making his debut at the Hungaroring, Alguersuari coped well with his step up to the top level. But he rarely made headlines, except when he crashed heavily at Suzuka during the Japanese Grand Prix, bringing out the safety car.

More on Jaime Alguersuari

• Jaime Alguersuari (Meet the Rookies)
• Jaime Alguersuari set to take Bourdais’ place at Toro Rosso in Hungary
• Jaime Alguersuari’s first day at the office in pictures)

Image (C) Red Bull / Getty Images