Toro Rosso give Bourdais the nod over Sato

France's Sebastien Bourdais will drive for Toro Rosso again in 2009, the Formula One team said yesterday 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.

The Toro Rosso vacancy was the last on the starting grid for the 2009 season starting on March 29, unless Honda are rescued.

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."