Formula One news

'STR's driver decision is purely a financial issue'

According to Sebastien Bourdais, Scuderia Toro Rosso has not signed up any drivers for 2009 as they are trying to get the best driver with the biggest budget. The Frenchman is the team's 2008 driver but as he is unable to bring a big sponsor along he fears a deal for 2009 might not happen because of that.

Toro Rosso is testing three different drivers this week in Barcelona. Bourdais is being joined by former Super Aguri driver Takuma Sato and Red Bull Racing test driver Sebastien Buemi. It is likely the team will sign up two of these three drivers for next season, but according to Bourdais it is not just about the most talented driver but also the sponsors he can bring to the party.

"If it was just a team principal decision we would have already signed for next season," Bourdais told GPUpdate.net. "It is purely a financial issue unfortunately. Obviously it doesn't really matter what they want if you don't have the money. It is now a pretty simple, but nasty game. If you find the money you will be all right but if you don't they put you on hold. They can't make a decision until they have all the cards in their hands and I'm just playing the waiting game."

"I never expected it would be like this," he added. "This was not part of the deal. When I signed up the team looked to have enough funds but then...(pauses)... I don't think I can comment too much about it really but mister Mateschitz is just doing what he said he was going to do. He will invest less and it will probably get worse next year. The team is unable to find good sponsors and when that is the case they just have to look for well funded drivers."

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