Sebastien Bourdais hopes his performance at the Belgian Grand Prix has helped secure his future with Toro Rosso.
Frenchman says Spa shows he can get the job done
Sebastien Bourdais hopes his performance at the Belgian Grand Prix has silenced calls for him to be dropped by Toro Rosso at the end of the season.
The Frenchman is under pressure after being outshone by team-mate Sebastian Vettel throughout 2008.
However, he put in a strong showing at Spa-Francorchamps, Bourdais' weekend getting off to a strong start when he set the fastest time during the first session of qualifying on Saturday.
He was briefly running third late in the race itself before the weather gods intervened and forced him to settle for seventh place at the chequered flag.
The 29-year-old admits he has been struggling to come to grips with a Ferrari-powered STR3 chassis which has come on strong in recent races, but believes he has proved his point.
"I'm just doing the job the best I can and I've done so since the beginning of the season," the four-time Champ Car title winner told
autosport.com.
"I think what's important for me is that I proved my point was valid - when I can get comfortable in the car I can get the job done.
"But unfortunately with the STR3 it has been very difficult for me and it's just the way it is."
Of his future with the Red Bull-backed outfit, Bourdais added: "It's the team's decision and I will respect whatever they decide to do."
Gamble
Reaching a podium position after third-placed runner Fernando Alonso made a late pit stop, Bourdais' gamble to stay out on dry tyres ultimately failed.
He was passed by a number of cars during the closing stages of the race - including Vettel, who finished fifth.
Nevetheless, because of the reward on offer, Bourdais said that he "couldn't really afford" to stop for wet tyres.
He added: "It was just basically exactly what I was anticipating because I could see the weather getting really dark and I knew it was the worst case scenario for me. Then it's how much risk you are willing to take.
"It's not that I didn't want to take them; it's just that I couldn't really afford to take them. After such a great race it really sucks to be in this position."
Challenge
However, team boss Gerhard Berger has challenged Bourdais to produce more of the same if he is to retain his drive - starting at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.
"We are not in a hurry to make any decision. Let's see in Monza and then see. If he drives like here (Spa) then fine," Berger told
autosport.com.
"He did a great race. If he could continue like this, it would be fantastic."
