Vettel still likely to race STR in Hungary
07/31/07 (GMM) Despite the reported breakdown in talks between the pair, Sebastian Vettel is still expected to race for Toro Rosso in the upcoming Hungarian grand prix.
After the Faenza based team's relationship with American regular Scott Speed hit a new and seemingly irreconcilable low at the Nurburgring, Toro Rosso commenced negotiations with BMW about releasing test driver Vettel's contract for the rest of 2007.
The talks, however, reportedly struck a financial snag.
But in the last couple of days, BMW has apparently finally agreed to release the 20-year-old. An announcement about Vettel's likely STR debut in Budapest is now expected on Wednesday at the latest, according to Auto Motor und Sport.
The specialist German magazine added that the final details are private negotiations between Vettel's management and Toro Rosso about how much the rookie – who attended but did not drive at STR's recent Mugello test – should be paid.
STR's parent team Red Bull gave a whimsical hint about the Vettel link in recent days by issuing a statement that said Vitantonio Liuzzi "will have another member of Scuderia Toro Rosso driving alongside him" in Hungary.
The statement, however, was actually referring to team co-owner Gerhard Berger, who will get behind the wheel of a 1983 McLaren for a promotional event near the Hungaroring track.