When Sébastien Buemi could have made his return to Formula 1

To find traces of Sébastien Buemi on the grid of a Grand Prix of Formula 1, we have to go back to Brazil in 2011. While Mark Webber won the 6th of his 8 career victories, the Swiss driver appeared for the last time in the shoes of a regular driver with Toro Rosso, today known as the Racing Bulls.

Since then, the native of Aigle has remained close to the environment, whether through his role as a reserve player in the group Red Bull for many years and still today as a simulator driver for the parent team during some Grands Prix during the season. In parallel, he continued his career whether in Formula E, where he was champion (2015-2016 with Renault e.dams), but especially in Endurance where he notably won the 24 Hours of Le Mans under the colors of Toyota.

However, Sébastien Buemi could well have found his way back to the Grand Prix as a regular. It was in 2018 when Daniel Ricciardo had announced his departure from Red Bull to Renault. The Austrian management had then contacted him to offer him a permanent position for the 2019 season. But against all expectations, the Swiss declined the offer for very specific reasons.

« We had discussions with Christian Horner and Helmut Marko in 2018, he confided from e-Formel.de. But it didn't really make sense to me because I had good contracts in Formula E. (with Nissan e.dams) and with Toyota (At WEC).

I would have had the chance to drive for Toro Rosso again. But for me it was better to continue on my path rather than return to Formula 1. »

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