F1: Toro Rosso give Bourdais the nod

France's Sebastien Bourdais will drive for Toro Rosso again in 2009, the Formula One team said on Friday in a statement that ended Japanese driver Takuma Sato's hopes of a comeback.

The decision to hand the 29-year-old Le Mans-born driver a second season also shut out Britain's Jenson Button, whose hopes now depend on his Honda team finding new owners in the next few weeks.

"It has been a very long and difficult winter, but now the waiting is finally over and I am really excited about tackling my second season with Scuderia Toro Rosso," said Bourdais, who will partner Swiss rookie Sebastien Buemi.

"Now, I can focus on preparing for the coming season. It promises to be a very interesting one, thanks to all the rule changes."

Bourdais partnered Sebastian Vettel at the Ferrari-powered team last year, scoring four points with seventh place in both Australia and Belgium and finishing 17th overall in the drivers' standings.

German Vettel, who scored 35, has now left for sister team Red Bull Racing.

"After one year with Toro Rosso, we expect him to profit from the experience he gained last season," said team principal Franz Tost.

"He now knows the F1 environment, the race tracks and the team. In addition, the slick tyres, which make a comeback this year, should suit his driving style very well."

SATO DISAPPOINTED

The Toro Rosso vacancy was the last on the starting grid for the 2009 season starting on March 29, unless Honda are rescued. The Japanese constructor announced in December that they were pulling out of the sport.

Bourdais was the incumbent but his position was not guaranteed, with Sato testing repeatedly for the team and pushing hard to return after losing his place with now-defunct Super Aguri last year.

"I am not sure what my future holds, I will be discussing with my manager what our next steps should be," the Japanese said in a separate statement.

"However, I strongly feel that I have unfinished business in F1 and that I still have a lot to give.

"I am determined to stay in top level motorsport and I will be fully focused on making a return to F1 as long as any opportunity is there."

Sato's manager Andrew Gilbert-Scott suggested money had been the deciding factor in the decision, rather than outright performance.

"Taku had showed tremendous speed and commitment during the three tests he did for the team and I believe he proved to be the faster driver," he said.

"Unfortunately however the team made no secret about the fact that they would need the drive to bring a substantial amount of funding to the team to secure the drive.

"We have ... been able to attract a significant amount of sponsorship to support the team but unfortunately it was obviously not enough to secure the drive."