From GMM
Flavio Briatore has issued an abrupt denial to unlikely speculation that French racer Sébastien 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'Équipe.
A 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.
"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 Sébastien Buemi line up alongside Force India test driver Vitantonio Liuzzi in 2009.
Meanwhile at Honda, the chances are high that a young countryman will replace Brazilian veteran Rubens Barrichello next year.
Honda is set to take up sponsorship by Petrobras next year, following the Brazilian oil firm's long association with struggling independent team Williams.
It is believed that Petrobras would be willing to substantially support the election of a Brazilian youngster as Jenson Button's teammate.
In the box seat is the GP2 runner-up Bruno Senna, who is expected to be tested by the Honda team in the near future.
So desperate is 36-year-old Barrichello to keep the seat, however, it is believed he has offered to bring down his weight over the winter to match Button's 68kg - which according to some sources could mean a necessary loss for the Brazilian of more than 8kg.
photo:Gepa Pictures - Red Bull
Flavio Briatore has issued an abrupt denial to unlikely speculation that French racer Sébastien Bourdais might be an option for a Renault race seat in 2009.
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| Toro Rosso's chief engineer Laurent Mékies, Sébastien Bourdais's agent Nicolas Todt and Bourdais. |
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'Équipe.
A 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.
"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 Sébastien Buemi line up alongside Force India test driver Vitantonio Liuzzi in 2009.
Meanwhile at Honda, the chances are high that a young countryman will replace Brazilian veteran Rubens Barrichello next year.
Honda is set to take up sponsorship by Petrobras next year, following the Brazilian oil firm's long association with struggling independent team Williams.
It is believed that Petrobras would be willing to substantially support the election of a Brazilian youngster as Jenson Button's teammate.
In the box seat is the GP2 runner-up Bruno Senna, who is expected to be tested by the Honda team in the near future.
So desperate is 36-year-old Barrichello to keep the seat, however, it is believed he has offered to bring down his weight over the winter to match Button's 68kg - which according to some sources could mean a necessary loss for the Brazilian of more than 8kg.
photo:Gepa Pictures - Red Bull