German driver Sebastian Vettel will switch to the Red Bull team from Toro Rosso in the next Formula One season.
Vettel will replace David Coulthard, who is retiring at the end of this season.
"As he was already part of the Red Bull family, choosing Sebastian as Mark Webber's teammate was not a difficult decision," team chief Sebastian Horner said.
Both Toro Rosso and Red Bull are owned by Austrian businessman Dietrich Mateschitz, who intends to sell Toro Rosso. The team will continue racing in 2009.
"Having only turned 21 at the last race and with only 17 Grand Prix starts to his name, he is still on a learning curve, but it is clear that he has plenty of ability and speed," Horner said of Vettel.
Toro Rosso has shown improved form since introducing its new car at Monaco, with Vettel finishing in the points in two of the four races since then.
"I am very proud to be joining Red Bull Racing and it's always good to have an early decision on what you are doing next year," Vettel said.
The move was announced three days before the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.
"Having got this announcement out of the way, I can concentrate on racing for Toro Rosso over the second half of the season," Vettel said. "I will try and repay them by doing my very best to get some more good results, to add to those we have achieved so far."
