Swiss driver Sebastien Buemi hits the Formula One grid in 2009, racing for the much-improved Toro Rosso outfit.

After graduating from karting, Buemi spent 2004 and 2005 in German Formula BMW, finishing third and second in the championship respectively.

The following season he made the move to A1GP where he shared duties for A1 Team Switzerland with Neel Jani and Marcel Fässler. The team finished eighth in the Championship.

However, it was in 2007 when the Red Bull-backed driver really began to make a name for himself, signing with ART Grand Prix to replace the injured Michael Ammermüller at the Monaco GP.

Buemi qualified fourth and finished seventh, earning himself a race-seat with Arden International.

He scored his first win in GP2 in the French sprint race, starting 21st on the grid on slick tyres on a drying track and benefitted when most of his rivals had to pit for slicks. He clinched one other win to finish sixth in the Championship.

His partnership with Red Bull, which saw him test for their F1 team in 2008, landed him a trial with Red Bull-backed Toro Rosso outfit, during which Buemi proved he has the speed to compete in F1.

In January 2009 Toro Rosso confirmed Buemi for the new F1 season, where'll have the chance to make a name for himself like his predecessor Seb Vettel.