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[McLaren Fan]

From F1 Live:

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.

© CAPSIS International
Source: GMM

If true, good news. Bourdais may a few bad gaffes last season, but he showed more than enough potential to warrant another chance.

[texasmr2]

Yes this is very good news indeed.

[A.Pulverizer]

I hope it's true.
IMO, the guy is a class act and a very good driver, who deserves a ride in F1.

[EwanM]

Excellent news. Hope he can be luckier in 2009!

[Gert]

Hmm, having Nicholas Todt as your manager when negotiating with w team powered by Ferrari can't exactly hinder things can it?

That said, Bourdais deserves 1 more year.

[Denthúl]

Bourdais can't not be in Formula One. He deserves a chance. We saw what he could do at some races last season. It would be an absolute shame to lose him.

[7UpJordan]

YES!! Good on Bourdais!!

But now it's up to him to prove he can do the job on slicks and stop Toro Rosso from dropping onto the back row of the grid. If he performs like he did in the second half of last season, he should be targetting taking Webber's spot at Red Bull should Vettel totally out-do him.

As as for Sato... go home mate, nobody wants you.

[scotty]

The cars will be a lot closer to the ones he dominated with in America... so no excuses now, he has to take advantage of the slight advantage that should give him. Glad he didn't get dropped though, that would have been an injustice.

[iPod]

If Piquet "deserves" another chance in F1, so does Bourdais. If he doesn't get a seat, I will be greatly disappointed. I haven't been at all impressed by Neslon this year. The better rookies (ala Vettel, Hamilton etc) grasped F1 after less than half a season - Piquet took a whole season to accomplish absolutely nothing.

[Stealthgate007]

Whats with Toro Roso and dudes named Sebastien??? If you name is Sebastien, I think you have a better chance them most. Congrats SB

[cap-dude]

He deserves it 100%.
I mean, I had quite a lot of negative thoughts about the guy. He seemed like he was arrogant, and cocky. But even 1 race in, he had a great drive in Australia. He deffinetly proved himself in 09, and I do respect the guy. The only probelm was luck, and there was none of it. Perfect drive in Belgium, only for those on wets to drive past. Italy, car stalled. Fuji, not really his fault either, and he got punished. He deserves another year, and this one, I'm sure he can more than prove himself worthy to remain in F1.

[Hanwombat]

Woo Bourdais does deserve it

[Mick]

Piquet took a whole season to accomplish absolutely nothing.

Yep and in a car that was in general, a lot more competitive than the Toro Rosso.

[f1ea]

What's shocking is how long it took them to make the decision (if they've made it), looks like Toro Rosso is actually trying to move forward in 09. Sato would have been a step back. Sato has always been unpredictable and unreliable, with the odd great race yeah... but Piquet almost won a race, so a great result once in a while could be a bit overrated.

Bourdais deserves this seat.

[digitaleye]

What's shocking is how long it took them to make the decision (if they've made it),

Absolutely! I think they were trying to squeeze some sponsor dough out of SB or something because he can clearly drive the car and TR needs some experience in the seat.