Comments on: Scuderia Toro Rosso: The Bourdais/Sato/Buemi Dilemma

By: Milos

Milos — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:33:40 +0000

The big boss preferes Buemi though …

Mateschitz said 20-year-old Swiss Buemi is the main candidate to land one of the seats.

The Austrian also claimed the final line-up would be announced before the end of the year.

“One will very likely be Buemi,” Mateschitz told autosport.com. “The line-up will be confirmed before the last test in December.”

The final test of the year at Jerez takes place on 15-17 December.

By: Milos

Milos — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:37:08 +0000

it really depends on what who within the Toro Rosso operation wants

if they need money then Sato is the one who MAY deliver more than the other 2. Bourdais makes no secret he has no significant funding, and Buemi is backed by Red Bull. I believe Toro Rosso is looking for backers other than Red Bull …

if they do not want to take too many risks, then keep Bourdais. they hould remember they dumped Vettel matching Liuzzi to make room for Bourdais, they should not let him go that easy I would say

Buemi is said to be the choice of some within Toro Rosso but I am not sure for reasons exactly. He may be likeable chap, they know him as he has been member of the Red Bull family for a while. But he only finished 6th in GP2 this year and I remember Berger saying not that long ago that one needs to win GP2 championship to at least stand a chance for F1 drive …

I would go for Sato and Bourdais and keep Buemi as tester. Buemi will not run away, he he has nowehere else to go and this way the team could at least see how Bourdais performs with new car and slicks … They can always drop a driver during the season if they want and promote the rookie …

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:08:55 +0000

I think that Bourdais didn’t show his worth last season, and Buemi may be better off coming into F1 next season so for me, I would like to see Sato back into F1.

By: Ishy

Ishy — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:36:47 +0000

I’ve always been a fan of Sato, but generally because he comes across as a very likeable driver in terms of personality. He has also shown glimpses of raw pace – and the test shows that. Whether he can translate that to a consistent performance remains to be seen, but he managed to wring the neck out of the Super Aguri with Davidson.

By: Steven Roy

Steven Roy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:48:02 +0000

According to Bourdais’s comments today he has been told that he is first choice if the team can raise the budget. He reckons there are 5 drivers in with a chance of the two seats. The three at the test this week and Barrichello and Senna if honda don’t sign them. He didn’t mention di Grassi.

By: donwatters

donwatters — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:47:19 +0000

The best choice would be SeaBass & Sato. Bourdais has the experience, has performed well outside of some bad luck, and is French. Sato has funding & marketability in Asia. The others? Not in their league by a long shot.

By: Pink Peril

Pink Peril — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:43:14 +0000

“so while Sato may have experience of races, he lacks a race-winning mentality, it would seem”.

To be fair to Sato, he was never gonna win in that Jordan or the Super Aguri. But he tried his hardest – too hard sometimes it would seem – which is what I’d look for in a driver.

And even Button only managed to win once in the Honda, and a fortuitous win it was at that.

I’d take Sato over any of the other contenders, and keep Le Seb while I’m at it.

By: Oliver White

Oliver White — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:07:03 +0000

Oh, I know the photo says Vettel (it was from the earlier test in September), but I couldn’t resist. Just pretend it says Bourdais.