Bourdais and Vettel confirmed for 08
August 11th 2007 10:15
Bourdais set for F1 debut in 08
The announcement came as no surprise to many, after Toro Rosso’s original 2007 drivers, Vitantonio Liuzzi and Scott Speed both spoke out about their discomfort within the team, with Speed eventually making way for 20-year-old Vettel at last Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
Bourdais, 28, had been in courtship with Toro Rosso throughout the year, and will finally join the team after the final round of the Champcar series on December 2.
“It has been a long time coming, but here we are!" said the Frenchman.
"I would like to thank everyone at Red Bull for believing in me and giving me this long-awaited opportunity to race in Formula One,” he said.
“I must also thank Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing for letting me pursue my dream and allowing me to test for Scuderia Toro Rosso a few times this year," he added.
Bourdais, who is managed by Nicolas Todt (who also manages Ferrrari driver Felippe Massa, and is son of Ferrari boss Jean) currently leads the Champcar series, and is odds-on to secure his fourth straight title.
“It took longer than expected, it took me several Champ Car seasons to show what I could do,” he said “But it's the beginning of a new adventure that I hope will be a long one."
An Arrows 2003 seat went begging after the team folded in '02
“Honestly, late last year I did not believe in it anymore,” he told a racing website, “But as is often the case, it's when you stop believing that things happen."
When asked about his expectations for next season, Bourdais was characteristically modest.
“I'm not coming to F1 as if I were Michael Schumacher.
“There will be other drivers much more in demand than I will be," he said.
The confirmation leaves Tonio Liuzzi without a drive in F1 next season, but the 25-year-old had already made future plans.
“I knew this possibility and I'm negotiating with other teams, so it's not a big change for me," said the Italian earlier this week.
Liuzzi will remain with the team for the final races of the season, partnered by Sebastian Vettel, whose Toro Rosso debut at Hungary was described by Liuzzi as “nothing special”.
Where Liuzzi will end up nest year is unknown, but some websites speculate that Williams is a strong possibility.
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