Sato loses out as Bourdais is confirmed in Toro Rosso seat for 2009

Stuttgart - The Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula One team confirmed Friday that Sebastien Bourdais will retain his seat for the 2009 season.

The 29-year-old Frenchman will team up with Swiss rookie Sebastien Buemi, who takes the place of Sebastian Vettel following the German's move to parent team Red Bull.

Japanese driver Takuma Sato and Brazilian Bruno Senna were also in the frame for a seat with Toro Rosso this season but team principal Franz Tost said the team decided to stick with Bourdais.

"We are pleased that Sebastien will be with us again for another season. After one year with Toro Rosso we expect him to profit from the experience he gained last season," said Tost.

Bourdais, who picked up four points in his first season in F1 with seventh places in Australia and Belgium, said it had been been a "very long and difficult winter" but now the waiting was over he was "really excited" about tackling his second season with Toro Rosso.

"Now I can focus on preparing for the coming season. It promises to be a very interesting one thanks to all the rule changes and I'm also looking forward to establishing a good relationship with my new team-mate," he said.

Sato's manager Andrew Gilbert Scott said he was "disappointed" that Toro Rosso has not chosen his driver for the 2009 season.

"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," said Scott in a statement.

"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 all been working very hard and 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."

Sato said he would now discuss his future with his manager before making a decision.

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

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