Dec.16 (GMM) Toro Rosso’s need to boost its budget explains the uncertainty surrounding its driver lineup for 2009
That is the revelation of Nicolas Todt, who is the French driver Sebastien Bourdais’ manager
Bourdais is still waiting to know if he can keep his race seat next year, amid the possibility that rival contender Takuma Sato can bring substantial sponsorship to the Faenza based team
Todt said of 29-year-old Bourdais: “Toro Rosso wants to keep him
“But the economic context is really difficult at the moment, therefore it is not really in our control,” the Frenchman told Auto Hebdo
Todt was also asked if the departure of Gerhard Berger, who had been a key advocate of bringing Bourdais to formula one from American open-wheel racing, had affected his chances for 2009
“It doesn’t change anything in a big way,” he answered. “Of course it is no simpler now, but also no more complicated.”n