On 14 December 2011, it was officially confirmed that Vergne would race for Toro Rosso in the season, alongside fellow Red Bull Junior Team member Daniel Ricciardo. After qualifying and finishing in eleventh place at the season-opening , Vergne scored his first World Championship points at the following race in Malaysia by finishing eighth in a rain-affected race. In the he turned into the car of Heikki Kovalainen from outside of the racing line during an overtake attempt, damaging both cars severely and scattering enough debris on the track that the safety car had to be deployed. After the race the stewards found that the accident had been avoidable and that Vergne had caused the accident. He would receive a 10-position double-penalty to his qualification result at the , along with a €25,000 fine.