Jani to test or race?

Neel Jani is pretty sure he'll be slotted into the third Red Bull Racing F1 car next season. Although the energy drink-owned team has not yet confirmed what position the 22-year-old will fill, the company has let slip that he will join David Coulthard, Christian Klien, Vitantonio Liuzzi and Scott Speed in the Red Bull/Squadra Toro Rosso lineup.

Speculation, however, is near unanimous that Jani, born in Switzerland, will support Coulthard and Klien as the 'Friday' driver in the senior team.

But it remains possible that Jani, who raced in the GP2 category in 2005, is – like Speed and Liuzzi – a candidate to race for the ex-Minardi team.

''Of course I am pleased about this opportunity,'' Jani – a former Sauber tester – said on Thursday. ''Now I can concentrate on F1 next year.

''Naturally I hope I get to race sooner rather than later, but sometimes in life it is necessary to be patient.''

Jani said he remembers, as a boy in front of the TV, watching David Coulthard race in F1 for Williams and McLaren. ''Now I'll be his teammate,'' he grinned. ''I am convinced that I will learn a lot from him.''