JANUARY 23, 2009

Toro Rosso settles on Bourdais?

The word in F1 circles is that Scuderia Toro Rosso has done the intelligent thing and will retain Sebastien Bourdais in 2009. The Frenchman will help the Austrian drinks company expand its market in France and will provide the team with some continuity and experience alongside the new boy Sebastien Buemi. If confirmed this is great news for Bourdais as he was not able to show his full potential in F1 last year as he was learning the ropes and then had a series of misfortunes when he was getting up to speed.

This means that the only drives theoretically still available are the two Hondas and while Jenson Button is certain to get one seat, the other remains open. It is not yet clear what Bruno Senna is up to because his name is not being mentioned much in GP2 circles, but it could be that the plan is for him to join Button in the team.

If the team does not survive - and this must remain a possibility until Honda makes an announcement to the contrary - then Button will be on the driver market and we might see one of the top teams making a grab for his services.