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[EwanM]

Bourdais says STR4 not suiting his style

By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde Tuesday, April 21st 2009, 10:34 GMT


Sebastien Bourdais admits he is struggling to get to grips with this year's Toro Rosso STR4, the Frenchman claiming corner exit problems are slowing him down.

Bourdais, in his second season with the Faenza-based squad, has been overshadowed by rookie team-mate Sebastien Buemi in the early part of the campaign.

Buemi has outqualified Bourdais in Australia and China, where the Swiss has also finished ahead of the Frenchman.

The four-time Champ Car champion concedes he is having problems adapting to the handling of the car.

"If you only look at the papers this year should be worse because the tyres are much harder," Bourdais told AUTOSPORT. "It's harder, because you have 20% more grip at the front. It's a little bit difficult, I can't hide it.

"This is the exact opposite of what I need. I mean, that's my weakness and I know it, and I assume it.

"It still doesn't mean that I can't go fast with these cars. It's just that I have a bit less room to operate properly. In Malaysia I was a bit more comfortable, and the potential of the car has been raised significantly.

"You can see where Red Bull is, and us, making it to Q3 is quite a big step. But for me, basically I'm happy with the car for most of the track, but there are two corners where I lose time. But the rest is alright, it's going according to plan."

The Frenchman is hopeful, however, that he will be able to make progress once Toro Rosso gets new updates that sister team Red Bull has been using.

"It will be in two steps for us. In Barcelona we will get what Red Bull has, which is a significant thing because along with a big wing, so it's pretty major," he added.

"And that's what we are hoping for, seeing what it's going to do and hopefully by then not everybody will have a double deck and we can look quite good."

Bourdais, who was in a similar situation with last year's car, said he still felt the support from the team.

"Yeah, and even more, because it's not like anybody pretends they have the answer or knows what's the best. Nobody knows, because we start with different cars because we feel we have to try different things and learn from this. One day one guy is going to get the good end and one day it's going to be the other guy."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74678

[EwanM]

I'd expect another factor is Bourdais's late draft into the STR squad. Buemi did most of the development for both Red Bull and Toro Rosso, so the car would obviously have certain areas which suited him more. I predict Bourdais is going to struggle for some time.

[texasmr2]

With all his experience one would think he could set the car up to suit his style . I know Seabass has the talent to do just that yet it seems he is just crying because his inexperienced/rookie teammate is schooling him?

[Gaz]

With all his experience one would think he could set the car up to suit his style . I know Seabass has the talent to do just that yet it seems he is just crying because his inexperienced/rookie teammate is schooling him?

Get Senna In.

Thanks

[Jensonb]

Bourdais is a fantastic driver. But it seems Toro Rosso is disinterested in working with him as any kind of lead driver. That's hurting him

[scotty]

I thought good drivers were able to adjust their driving style to the car's demands in order to remain quick... oh wait, that's right, Bourdais isn't that good really.

[EwanM]

I thought good drivers were able to adjust their driving style to the car's demands in order to remain quick... oh wait, that's right, Bourdais isn't that good really.

[darwin dali]

I thought good drivers were able to adjust their driving style to the car's demands in order to remain quick... oh wait, that's right, Bourdais isn't that good really.

A bit harsh

[Denthúl]

With all his experience one would think he could set the car up to suit his style . I know Seabass has the talent to do just that yet it seems he is just crying because his inexperienced/rookie teammate is schooling him?

There is a difference between not being able to set up a car to suit yours style and having a car that is designed in a way that suits another style altogether.

[McLaren Fan]

Good drivers should be able to adapt quickly. Bourdais is not really excusing anything, other than to say he's not a good racing driver.

Because of the new regulations, the cars this season should actually have been closer to what Bourdais is used to.

Whingeing and Bourdais seem to go together.

[texasmr2]

With all his experience one would think he could set the car up to suit his style . I know Seabass has the talent to do just that yet it seems he is just crying because his inexperienced/rookie teammate is schooling him?

There is a difference between not being able to set up a car to suit yours style and having a car that is designed in a way that suits another style altogether.

I dont think a car is designed to suit one particular driving style, what if they change drivers mid-season? A good driver will adjust the cars setup to suit his style imo but what do I know?

[scotty]

Good drivers should be able to adapt quickly. Bourdais is not really excusing anything, other than to say he's not a good racing driver.

Because of the new regulations, the cars this season should actually have been closer to what Bourdais is used to.

Whingeing and Bourdais seem to go together.

Yep. I remember Kubica saying he had to adjust his style for the car ('07 or '08, not sure which) yet he just got on with doing it and didn't start making excuses after a mere 3 races. We all know he loves a good moan as well!

Bourdais

[Jensonb]

With all his experience one would think he could set the car up to suit his style . I know Seabass has the talent to do just that yet it seems he is just crying because his inexperienced/rookie teammate is schooling him?

There is a difference between not being able to set up a car to suit yours style and having a car that is designed in a way that suits another style altogether.

I dont think a car is designed to suit one particular driving style, what if they change drivers mid-season? A good driver will adjust the cars setup to suit his style imo but what do I know?

Not strictly true, Jenson was outperformed by Rubens last year because the car did not suit his style one bit. Equally, Jenson ran rings around Rubens in 2006 because the car was largely built for him and Rubens was also having to contend with new tyres.

It's pretty common for cars, particularly compromised designs, to be more suited to one style or another. Great cars like the Brawn and the Red Bull can be adapted somewhat easily. Compromised or just simply poor cars like the Toro Rosso (That Ferrari engine does not help that car one bit, put it that way) and last year's Honda are much more sensitive to driving style and it is harder to get around it.

[Tony_sa]

With all his experience one would think he could set the car up to suit his style . I know Seabass has the talent to do just that yet it seems he is just crying because his inexperienced/rookie teammate is schooling him?

There is a difference between not being able to set up a car to suit yours style and having a car that is designed in a way that suits another style altogether.

I dont think a car is designed to suit one particular driving style, what if they change drivers mid-season? A good driver will adjust the cars setup to suit his style imo but what do I know?

Not strictly true, Jenson was outperformed by Rubens last year because the car did not suit his style one bit. Equally, Jenson ran rings around Rubens in 2006 because the car was largely built for him and Rubens was also having to contend with new tyres.

It's pretty common for cars, particularly compromised designs, to be more suited to one style or another. Great cars like the Brawn and the Red Bull can be adapted somewhat easily. Compromised or just simply poor cars like the Toro Rosso (That Ferrari engine does not help that car one bit, put it that way) and last year's Honda are much more sensitive to driving style and it is harder to get around it.

none of the drivers can match lewis cos he will have made the car work for him and not complained that the car dont suit him.

[texasmr2]

Yah whatever .

Stay on topic ok!