Bourdais ‘too old’ for Renault, eyes possible return to USA
The Frenchman, who has had a mixed debut season in formula one, is believed to be under pressure to finalize his plans for next year, amid a raft of offers from America.
"The bosses of Toro Rosso seem in no hurry to decide my fate," 29-year-old Bourdais told the French sports daily L'Equipe.
"I am concerned about the other proposals I have received from outside of F1, and that soon they will need my answer," he explained.
"A time will come when I will have to take the responsibility."
Bourdais has had a run of better form in the past few weeks, and hopes it has been enough to earn a contract extension.
"I hope I will get a second chance, because it has been a difficult season; one of the worst of my whole career, without really being able to leave a lasting impression."
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| Bourdais (left) gets passed over by Flavio Briatore yet again. Briatore would prefer to run a wanker such as Nelson Piquet Jr who has been made to look incompetent alongside Fernando Alonso all year long |
10/22/08 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has issued an abrupt denial to unlikely speculation that French racer Sebastien Bourdais might be an option for a Renault race seat in 2009.
Bourdais, the 29-year-old F1 rookie and a multiple title winner of the defunct American series Champ Car, is "too old" to be considered by Renault, team boss Briatore is quoted as saying in the French sports daily L'Equipe.
Briatore's comments reinforce expectations that, should a vacancy arise for next year, Renault-linked youngsters like Lucas di Grassi and Romain Grosjean are at the head of the queue.
Briatore also seems happier now with Nelson Piquet. "Fuji and Shanghai were new circuits for him, and he learn them quickly.
"Previously, he was pretty weak on new tracks," the Italian told Auto Motor und Sport.
The German magazine also reports that Bourdais is only prepared to wait until the end of this month for Toro Rosso chiefs to sign him up for 2009.
Should he not find a job in F1 for next year, he is lining up options to return to the American scene (rumor has it that NHLR has not re-signed Justin Wilson waiting on Bourdais' decision).
"For sure, there are some options but for now the target is to stay here," Bourdais confirmed.
Auto Motor und Sport contends that Bourdais' biggest obstacle to a renewed contract at Toro Rosso is Helmut Marko, Red Bull's motor racing advisor.
Reportedly, Marko would like to see Sebastien Buemi line up alongside Force India test driver Vitantonio Liuzzi in 2009. [Editor's Note: Bourdais would bury both of these wankers]