italiaspeed.com

Scuderia Toro Rosso collected its first points of the 2008 Formula 1 season in Monte Carlo this afternoon as Sebastian Vettel (top) drove the Italian team's new Ferrari-powered STR3 chassis to fifth place on its Grand Prix debut, although team mate Sébastien Bordais (above) retired.

Scuderia Toro Rosso collected its first points of the 2008 Formula 1 season in Monte Carlo this afternoon as Sebastian Vettel drove the Italian team's new Ferrari-powered STR3 chassis to fifth place on its Grand Prix debut.

20-year old Vettel, who hasn't finished anywhere near the top-ten so far this season, ran a one-stop strategy and avoided the rain induced carnage that hit the 20-car field in Monaco. The German driver made his only pitstop after 52 laps, and the four points he collects means that he now moves into 12th place in the drivers' championship as well as providing the hard-pressed Faenza-based team with much needed constructors' points.

Vettel's team mate Sébastien Bourdais was also driving the brand new STR3 chassis, which has seen its introduction delayed until the sixth round of the season. However the Frenchman, who collected two points for seventh place in the opening Grand Prix of the year in Melbourne, crashed out early on this afternoon after running into the back of David Coulthard's stricken Red Bull.

Sebastian Vettel: “The race today was extremely difficult, especially at the start when with all the water on the track surface there was a lot of aquaplaning. But we were very strong as the track began to dry and that’s what made the difference. It’s great to score my first points of the season at Monaco and with the new car as well. A big thank you to the team, who worked so hard to understand the car and improve it over the weekend. And a special thanks for the pit stop which was fantastic and gained me two places. These points are a nice present for one of our mechanics, Gaggio, who has been with the team for ever and we will have a nice party for him tonight with something to celebrate as this is his last race with the team.”

Sébastien Bourdais: “The conditions were complicated as it is never easy to drive on these intermediate tyres when there is standing water on the track surface. As far as my accident was concerned, David had gone off the track. For some reason, even though it seemed to have stopped raining by then, there was more water on the track at that point than before and when I saw the yellow flags, I backed off a bit more and lost control of the rear of the car.”

Franz Tost: “Fifth place, four points, a new car and all at Monaco,fantastic! It was an exciting race and Vettel did an incredible job, especially at the beginning with these exceptionally difficult circumstances when he had a new car totally under control. Later, when he changed onto the dry tyres, he was one of the fastest on track. Doing this on his first appearance in Monaco in an F1 car and with the new car is really a fantastic performance. The team did a good job with the new car, especially as it did not look so good after Thursday, but over the next two days, the car was given a completely new set-up, so congratulations to the engineers and everyone in the team for doing a fantastic job. As for Bourdais, he lost control of the car as he had to lift off a bit when Coulthard crashed. But there are plenty more races this year for him to show what he can do.”