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Jaime Alguersuari has been working as a summariser for BBC Radio 5 live
Formula 1 an auction, says driver Jaime Alguersuari
Jaime Alguersuari believes Formula 1 is "an auction" after failing to secure a seat for the forthcoming season.
The 22-year-old Spaniard was released by Toro Rosso at the end of the 2011 campaign and spent last season as Pirelli's tyre tester while working as a summariser for BBC Radio 5 live.
He claims he was assured of a seat.
Five-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio was funded by Juan Peron's government during his career
"Those who committed themselves with me have given reasons I must accept but I do not share. F1 has become an auction," Alguersuari said.
"I assure everyone I have been convinced for most of the 2012 F1 season that my seat was secured in a team that usually scores.
"They did tell me and I believed it to be true. Due to this conviction I passed up other opportunities in other championships."
BBC's chief F1 writer Andrew Benson says that "pay drivers" - those who bring sponsorship with them to secure a seat and which the Spaniard was referring to - "have been a fact of life for as long as the sport has existed".
Alguersuari was the 2008 British Formula Three champion before moving up to F1.
He joined Toro Rosso in 2009 and, at the age of 19 years and 125 days, became the youngest driver in history to start a Grand Prix when he took his place on the grid in Hungary.
The Barcelona-born driver is adamant he still has a future in the sport.
"I know how old I am, I know my track record and I'm convinced I deserve a winning car in F1," he continued.
"Is my career over in F1 at 22 years old? Despite everything, I strongly don't think so.
"So I will continue to be active in Formula 1 [with Pirelli], and complete more kilometres than any third driver in this discipline."
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Comment number 146.
ddt51020th February 2013 - 20:32
144 - no it's likely because di resta isn't even a podium finisher and not really a household name, given that he's only been in the sport with a midfield team for two years
also - "mercedes progress pleases hamilton" main article - come on benson, you surely can't do any more pointless articles about hamilton or alonso? Soon we'll have - "breaking news - hamilton eats a sandwich!"
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Comment number 145.
notsopunk20th February 2013 - 19:33
Alguersuari sounds like my sister when she is not allowed to go out...
Just like soccer, they have scouts in every major racing, If there is an awesome driver outhere waiting to be discovered he for sure would be on F1, no big team would let him go or let that opportunity go wheter he comes with money or not, as simple as that.
J.A is just a lower field driver who cannot justify his seat.
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Comment number 144.
yellowbelly20th February 2013 - 19:32
@143
If true then it just reinforces my point about Lewis not being discriminated against, which begs the question: Why hasn't Britain's other established F1 driver, Paul DiResta, been invited on Top Gear, is it an anti-DiResta propaganda machine?
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Comment number 143.
ddt51020th February 2013 - 18:44
138 - jenson button went on top gear twice
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Comment number 142.
F120th February 2013 - 7:32
@137 Straight Talker
There is extensive coverage of this on the BBC Top Gear website, including behind the scenes video and comments section.
Sorry to be the bearer of such 'bad news' and spoil your rant.
ps
looks like you're 1 nil down now, away from home and the ref' is looking at his watch and reaching for his whistle.
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Comments 5 of 146