Bourdais: Money could decide STR seats

Friday 21st November 2008

As he waits to learn whether he'll remain with Toro Rosso next season, Sebastien Bourdais has conceded that the team's race-seats could be based on who has the money.

Bourdais left a successful career in ChampCar to head to Formula One with Toro Rosso at the start of this year's Championship. However, after just one season his F1 career is on the line due to lack of results.

Bourdais struggled to come to terms with the sport, lagging his team-mate Seb Vettel for much of the season. While Vettel bagged 35 points, Bourdais could only manage four.

But despite this the Frenchman is hoping to continue with Toro Rosso next season, revealing that he actually has a three-deal with the Red Bull junior team, however, that doesn't mean his future is secure.

"It was not a one-year contract, it was a three-year deal, obviously with options," he told the official F1 website.

"And in the end it does not matter whether you have a three-year deal or not - there is always a line in the contract which says that if they are not happy with you they can get rid of you.

"The fact is that there is no such thing as a sure deal in racing, whether it is Formula One or any other series. As long as it works it's good for everyone and then it is all rosy, but if it doesn't work out as expected, then ciao!

"That's the way it is."

Asked whether he was sure of staying with Toro Rosso, who tested Takuma Sato and Seb Buemi at Barcelona this past week, Bourdais said: "Absolutely not at all."

He added that he believes the 2009 Toro Rosso race-seats could be based on who has the funds. "As far as I am concerned I don't see a decision being made any time soon because I don't see anybody being able to guarantee money right now, or tomorrow or the next day," he continued.

"I think it will drag on for quite some time and I am a professional driver and at some point I will need to make sure that I have a job for next year. And when the time comes I will have to make a decision.

"There have been three drivers in Barcelona, but Rubens (Barrichello) is on the list and Bruno (Senna) as well - if he doesn't get picked up by Honda - so anybody who has got talent and money today is a potential candidate."

Your Comments

grabyrdy

"One would have thought that TR had done well enough this year to pick at least one of their drivers on talent and not money. (this means : pick Bourdais !)"

ilAlfisto

"It will be a real shame if Bourdais doesn't get another crack at F1. Rotten luck to be paired with the brilliant Vettel, after five seasons slumming in No-Man's-Land (ChampCar) racing bumper cars. Poor guy probably developed atrophy."

bikerbaz

"I firmly believe that Sato is the bearer of much Japanese sponsership. The Jap's want to see one of their kind racing an F1 car on their TV sets even if he's not winning. It creates home interest, especially if he gets a good car."

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