Italian Formula One outfit Toro Rosso have announced they are retaining both Australian Daniel Ricciardo and his French teammate Jean-Eric Vergne for the 2013 season.
Ricciardo, 23, has enjoyed a much happier season with the team – an affiliate of defending constructors champions Red Bull – than he did with HRT last year finishing ninth four times so far to register nine points.
Vergne, 22, has had a solid rookie season claiming three eighth places to sit one place above his team-mate on 12 points.
“Toro Rosso is happy to confirm that it will continue with its present pilots Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne for the Formula One 2013 season,” said a statement from the team on Wednesday.
Team director Franz Tost said it was a deserved reward for the two young drivers.
“They have both done a good job this season,” he said.
“Since the mid-season break, both of them have scored points and everyone in the team has been impressed by their maturity in both collaborating with the engineers and their competence on the track.”
Toro Rosso are presently ninth in the constructors championship with 21 points heading into this weekend’s penultimate race the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Ricciardo said he was “pumped” to return with Toro Rosso and there were “big expectations for next year and I’m ready and willing to fulfil them”.
Vergne said he was “really happy with the good news”.