That’s some serious helmet hair

Swiss F3 star Natacha Gachnang is the first female driver to sign up for the new FIA Formula Two Championship. Don’t be surprised if one day she makes it all the way to F1. The 21 year-old certainly has the genes to succeed in motorsport: she is the cousin of Red Bull test driver Sebastien Buemi, who looks set to win a 2009 race seat for Toro Rosso.

The new F2 category will use a new car based on a chassis built by Williams and an engine built by Audi.

Swiss rookie talks talk, walks walk

Sebastien Buemi may come across as a cocky sod (he nominated Jenson Button as his preferred team-mate at Toro Rosso, even though he has yet to secure a seat with the team), but he clearly knows how to drive, so we’ll let him off.

The Swiss youngster continued to impress in testing at Jerez, setting the pace for the fifth day in a row. He was quickest around the Spanish circuit last week on each of the three days when he tested for a seat at Toro Rosso. And so far this week, in his day job as Red Bull’s test driver, Buemi has again proved untouchable (not all the teams were testing, admittedly).

“It’s been a very good test so far, we’ve been improving with every lap, which is really good for next season and I’m happy,” he said.

“We’re learning more about the slick tyres too, which is important. I’m looking forward to tomorrow and trying to improve myself more.”

Sebastian Vettel made it a 1-2 for Red Bull on Tuesday as he finished just under two tenths behind Buemi. The two Sebs were followed by the BMW Sauber pair of Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica, with Williams’ Kazuki Nakajima in fifth.

German driver let loose in TV studio

In which Seb Vettel gets very, very close and personal with a German studio audience. Excellent close control from the new Schumi, we’re sure you’ll agree.

WARNING: Dont try this with David Coulthard.

[IMotor]

Swiss rookie moonlighting as Jenson’s agent?

Sebastien Buemi says he would prefer to have Jenson Button as his Toro Rosso team-mate in 2009.

“I am hoping for a strong team-mate in 2009,” Buemi told Swiss daily Blick.

“I would prefer Button. However, Honda could return next season as the new cost-cutting measures could see budgets drop by 40 per cent.”

Sebastien Bourdais and Takuma Sato are both in the frame to fill STR’s second seat, but neither driver could match Buemi’s pace at Jerez last week.

Bourdais’ manager claims that the team wants to re-sign his man, but Bourdais admits he is struggling to find financial backing; the extra money Sato and Button offer may be the key factor in the team’s decision.

Button and Buemi would be an interesting combination of experience and potential, although Bourdais can be great on slicks and deserves a second chance in F1.

Will drive fast for cash

First things first: we hope Jens kept the receipt for his Honda jet, because he’ll probably want a refund.

Secondly, will the third-best paid driver on the grid - yes, Button is paid more than any driver with the exception of Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso - still be on the grid in 2009?

If Honda can find a buyer, Button could stay put. If not, his only real options are as follows:

1) Audition for a Toro Rosso seat. Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost might invite Button to test in Jerez later this month. Even then, there is stiff competition for a seat, and Button would have to be prepared to take a substantial pay cut.

2) Sit out 2009 and return in 2010. Nico Rosberg looks set to leave Williams soon, so maybe Button could return to his former team. Meanwhile, Jenson could hone his triathlon skills.

3) Do a Nigel Mansell and head to the States.

Which of these options is his best bet? We’ll leave that answer to you…

Another team could follow Honda out the door

We’re all still recovering here in the Gridcrasher garage. Honda’s decision to quit the sport left all fans of the sport reeling - and there could be another victim of the global economic downturn.

Indeed, Max Mosley says he suspects another team will drop out before the start of the 2009 season, while Williams’ chief executive Adam Parr told The Times that he expects just eight teams to line up on the Melbourne grid.

Toyota seemed to be the most likely manufacturer to follow Honda, amid a dramatic slump in car sales, especially in the US. But Toyota has confirmed it will compete next season - Honda’s exit means one less rival for them, after all.

If Toyota have decided to tough it out, Red Bull appear less committed. In a statement the team said it was “not surprised” by Honda’s decision to pack up and sell out.

“Numerous other race teams are having similar thoughts,” the Austrian group told AFP.

“The main issue now is whether the reductions in costs all of us must make will come quickly enough to guarantee a sufficient number of teams carrying on.”

Japanese veteran in pole position for STR drive in ‘09

Takuma Sato will test again for Toro Rosso at Jerez next week (on 10-11 December, to be specific). The Japanese driver, who raced for the now-defunct Super Aguri team at the start of the year, has tested for STR twice already, and he clearly impressed the team enough for them to take another look.

“We obviously see this as a positive step but still nothing is decided for the 2009 racing season,” said Matthew Winter, Taku’s commercial manager.

Energy drinks giants now owns 100% of STR

Red Bull has bought Gergard Berger’s 50% stake in Toro Rosso. Berger (pictured above, with Seb Vettel) had bought the stake from Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz in 2006, after the Austrian billionaire had purchased the ailing Minardi team and rebranded it.

The sale could spell the beginning of the end for Toro Rosso, who overperformed in 2008. Berger wanted to get out before Toro Rosso started to slip towards the back of the grid.

“The new rules leave no room for improvement for a small team as STR,” the former McLaren driver told Autosport.

“Also, Dietrich’s interest will focus on Red Bull Racing, therefore the support for STR will become smaller and prevent the team from improving further from sixth.”