Mateschitz backs Bourdais

"No significant alternatives" to Frenchman

Last updated: 12th February 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Mateschitz backs Bourdais

Bourdais: Back for second season

Related links

Teams

Drivers

Also see

Toro Rosso owner Dietrich Mateschitz has said the decision to re-sign Sebastien Bourdais was the best option for the team.

The Frenchman rejoins the Red Bull-backed outfit for a second season after being chosen ahead of Takuma Sato.

Bourdais and Sato had both tested for the team late last year in what amounted to a 'shoot-out' for a seat alongside rookie Sebastien Buemi.

Despite the Japanese driver putting in some impressive lap times during the tests, Toro Rosso announced last Friday they had plumped for Bourdais.

Sato's manager Andrew Gilbert-Scott subsequently suggested that money was a factor in the decision.

However, Mateschitz has denied this, saying he believes it was best for the team to sign a driver who had already raced for them.

"There were no significant alternatives to Bourdais," he told autosport.com.

"Sato was doing well in testing, but he would have started where Bourdais started a year ago.

"Bourdais had some good races and very competitive qualifyings last season, but also some bad luck.

"When you invest in a driver for one year and he is doing reasonably well, it makes sense to work with him for another year.

"He has the potential to make the best of his second year."

Formula 1 2009 Season. Click here to bet.