Vergne: Bench better than Caterham seat

LONDON, England - Jean-Eric Vergne insists his new Ferrari test role is better than a race seat with struggling tail-ender team Caterham.

The 24-year-old Frenchman was dropped by Red Bull after contesting three seasons for the brand's junior F1 team Toro Rosso.

Ferrari has signed him for 2015, primarily a simulator driver, as Mexican Esteban Gutierrez will be the official reserve.

BETTER 'SEAT'

Vergne told the French sports daily L'Equipe: "It is a good way to stay in touch with the paddock but my motivation is also to help Ferrari to win. I will work for the most prestigious team and do my best to help them in the simulator.

"That is great. I would rather sit with Ferrari on the bench than race for a team such as Caterham. I'm still very young and there are still many years in Formula 1 ahead of me."