Jean-Eric Vergne joins Toro Rosso for 2012
Born: 25th April 1990
Birthplace: Pontoise, France
Find all F1 Fanatics who are fans
of Jean-Eric Vergne
Jump to:
Jean-Eric Vergne followed the path of his predecessors on the Red Bull Driver Development programme. After winning the British F3 championship in 2010 he progressed to Formula Renault 3.5, which he spent in a year-long battle for the title with Carlin team mate Robert Wickens.
Vergne tended to qualify behind his team mate but they were much more closely matched in the races, taking five wins apiece. Vergne came off the back of a strong weekend on home ground at Paul Ricard poised to snatch the championship in Barcelona.
But Wickens won the first of the two races and when the pair retired in separate incidents in the second race it confirmed Wickens as the champion, nine points ahead of Vergne.
Vergne’s Red Bull connection had already secured him a run in the world championship-winning RB7 in the Abu Dhabi young drivers’ test, and he went quickest on all three days. He also drove for Toro Rosso in practice sessions towards the end of the year.
Vergne’s predecessors Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari were dropped from Toro Rosso at the end of the year to make way for him and fellow development driver Daniel Ricciardo.
Jean-Eric Vergne featured articles
Jean-Eric Vergne latest articles
- Vergne using Jean Alesi tribute helmet in Monaco
- All change at Toro Rosso, the Red Bull kindergarten
- The rookie class of 2012 has a French flavour
- Tost: Toro Rosso is a "rookie training school"
- Ricciardo and Vergne to drive for Toro Rosso
- Battle of the team mates spurs Toro Rosso on
- Young Drivers Test Day 3 in pictures
- Young Drivers Test Day 2 in pictures
- Young Drivers Test Day 1 in pictures
- Jean-Eric Vergne leads first day of young drivers test
Read more Jean-Eric Vergne articles
Image © Red Bull/Getty images
