Toro Rosso dump struggling Bourdais

Spanish teenager Jaime Alguersuari is set to become Formula One's youngest ever driver after Toro Rosso ran out of patience with France's Sebastien Bourdais yesterday.

The Ferrari-powered team, winners of their home Italian Grand Prix last year with Germany's Sebastian Vettel, said four-times Champ Car champion Bourdais had made his last appearance for them.

His replacement will be announced shortly before next week's Hungarian Grand Prix.

"In Sebastien's second year with us, the partnership has not met our expectations," said team boss Franz Tost.

"Therefore, we have decided to replace him as from the next round of the world championship."

The statement did not say who would get the drive but 19-year-old Alguersuari, the team's newly appointed reserve driver, has been widely tipped to start in Budapest.

The Spaniard, the British Formula Three champion, is competing for his Carlin team in a World Series by Renault race at Le Mans - Bourdais's home town - this weekend.

If confirmed for Hungary, he will make his debut aged 19 years and 125 days.

The previous youngest was New Zealand's Mike Thackwell, who entered the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix with Tyrrell aged 19 and 183 days.