Formula One news

Cost cuts saved my seat - Bourdais

Sebastien Bourdais is the person to add his voice to praise for F1's dramatic cost cutting measures for the 2009 season, saying the reduced budget required by teams to compete was key to his being retained by Toro Rosso for a second season.

Despite a strong end to the season, Bourdais' seat was in doubt over the winter as it was understood Toro Rosso was looking for a driver that could also bring the most sponsorship revenue with them. However, both Bourdais and chief rival for the drive - Takuma Sato - struggled to find enough backing. 

"The driver choice was initially linked with needing to find sponsorship and then it wasn't," Bourdais told L'Equipe newspaper. "Initially sponsorship was essential, but after all the cost-cutting measures came into force it was clear Red Bull could save $100million across both teams. Then the sponsorship wasn't as big an issue and I was back at the top of the list."

"Beforehand we had looked all over for investment but it was difficult because of the economic climate," he added.

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