Bourdais still with Toro Rosso

[pchall]

f1-live story (http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/090122162902.shtml)


Reports in the Swiss and French press on Thursday suggest Sebastien Bourdais will shortly be confirmed as Toro Rosso's second race driver for the 2009 season.

The 29-year-old Frenchman raced with the Faenza-based team last year, but so far only the Swiss rookie Sebastien Buemi has been confirmed for the forthcoming season.

2009 would therefore be Bourdais' second season in Formula One, following his mixed debut when he finished the 2008 championship with just four points compared with his Red Bull-bound teammate Sebastian Vettel's 35.

It is reported by the Swiss magazine Speedweek, with close links to the team's owner Red Bull, that Toro Rosso selected Bourdais over the other candidate for the seat, Takuma Sato.

The French website sport24.
com speculated that Sato's expected personal sponsorship may have dwindled as the Japanese recession worsens.

Bourdais' manager Nicolas Todt would not confirm the news but insisted that "we are always in negotiations."

Moreover, the official website of the Ferrari-powered team is now showing Bourdais and Buemi as the drivers in the 'team' section.



I hope he get to do LeMans with Pug again.

[Fio1]

Is it me or is 1/5 of the F1 grid named Sebastien? :rofl: It's kind of like Dale in Nascar in the 80's.

[NismoZ]

Hey...there's Sebastien, then there's Sebastian!:p

[High Sided]

guess we'll know for sure in a few days...
http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-bourdais-drive-not-guaranteed/

[Gnam]

It's been said Toro Rosso needs a pay driver for the second seat. Where is Seabass getting his funding from?

Or is it just a case of Toro Rosso keeping him, if all the pay drivers can't really drive?

[Easy]

It read somewhere that Sato is having trouble raising the money in this economy and that if he doesn't raise enough to buy the seat it goes to Bourdais free of charge. Like most professional motor sports arrangements.:irked:

I find it pretty pathetic that an F1 team with the ownership group of STR is willing to sell a seat for what is probably peanuts in the big picture of their budget. That ~10% budget shortfall could be more than made up for with better results and a bigger slice of the year end money.

[High Sided]

still not confirmed as driver but scheduled to test in jerez with buemi next week
http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-bourdais-to-test-at-jerez/
"Things are looking pretty good (for Bourdais)," the spokesperson told Manipe F1, "and there should be a decision soon."

[Gnam]

During last season, Bourdais made several comments about being a "professional driver" and expecting the team to behave professionally by letting him know if the drive was his by a certain date. And if they couldn't/wouldn't set a date, then he would. He wanted enough time to find a ride somewhere for 2009.

If Toro Rosso doesn't pick him, does he have a fall back drive?

[Robstar]

Sounds like STR is his only option...

I reckon he's got it though... :crossesfingers:

[ilferrari]

Confirmed by STR (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73147)

[Wally]

First positive news this year. Good for Seabass...:thumbup:

[Gnam]

Good deal. :thumbup:

[nissan gtp]

excellent :thumbup:

[High Sided]

bet he's sprung a few gray hairs this off season.
wish him the best for 09 :thumbup:

[Gnam]

Parle vous surrender-monkey? ;)


Q:Le journal L'Equipe suggère vendredi que vous pourriez participer aux 24 Heures du Mans avec Peugeot les 13 et 14 juin prochains. Pouvez-vous nous le confirmer ?

Bourdias: Je serai avec Peugeot lundi pour en parler lors d'une conférence de presse. Mais si j'y participe, ce sera forcément pour l'emporter.»

http://www.lequipe.fr/Formule1/breves2009/20090206_174215_bourdais-mettre-plus-de-points.html

[TRANSAM]

Parle vous surrender-monkey? ;)



http://www.lequipe.fr/Formule1/breves2009/20090206_174215_bourdais-mettre-plus-de-points.html


The l'Equipe magazine suggested Friday that you could participate in Le Mans with Peugeot next June 13 and 14th.Can you confirm?

Monday I will be with Peugeot for a press conference.If I'm participating that necessarily would mean I'm carrying the day.

Or something like that.

[Robstar]

Great news... :thumbup::thumbup:

[Hard Driver]

Good. He got screwed a couple of times last year, like his penalty for driving around a corner when a Ferrari wanted to be there.

I hope he has a good year this year.:thumbup:

[High Sided]

seabass will also be in the peugeot for sebring :thumbup:

[mueber]

seabass will also be in the peugeot for sebring :thumbup:

Another reason to go!

[diamond dave]

seabass will also be in the peugeot for sebring :thumbup:


really?
:thumbup:

[cameraman]

Minassian, Lamy and Klien will be behind the wheel of #7 at Sebring, with Montagny, Sarrazin and Bourdais on duty in #8.

[G.]

Parle vous surrender-monkey? ;)



"Cheese-eating surrender-monkey" is my all-time favorite insult to the French.

:rofl:

[Gnam]

Talk about dodging a flying Dallara shaped bullet:

Bourdais was close to signing with IRL Team (http://www.sportinglife.com/formula1/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=formula1/09/02/23/manual_124906.html)

[STD]

:laugh: