Oct.15 (GMM) Gerhard Berger says he is planning a "long term" relationship with Toro Rosso's impressive newcomer Sebastian Vettel.



The veteran of more than 200 grands prix, and co-owner of the Faenza based team, was asked by the German publication 'Express' if he is worried that the 20-year-old will now be head-hunted by formula one's bigger teams.



Toro Rosso leapt ahead of Spyker, Super Aguri and Honda in the constructors' standings when Vettel's fourth place in Shanghai (and teammate Tonio Liuzzi's sixth) delivered points to the team's account.



Before smashing into Mark Webber's Red Bull in Japan a week earlier, Vettel was running third.



"Clearly, with achievements like those, a driver rouses interest," Austrian Berger, a winner of ten grands prix, admitted.



"But I plan on a long-term relationship with Sebastian. He confirmed in China that a top driver is emerging with us -- and I am expecting even more of him."



Vettel is under contract to Toro Rosso for the 2008 and 2009 seasons, and he also retains links with his previous F1 employer, BMW.