Catch-up week – Week no. 29

Twist in the 29th week of the year, our sole French representative in Formula 1, Sébastien Bourdais, was dismissed by the Toro Rosso team while the 2009 season was in full swing. casinoenlignefrance.eu.com will dedicate most of this article to this case with a fatal outcome for the Frenchman. Let’s not forget the rest of the news either in this week of pause since the Hungarian Grand Prix takes place only next weekend. Two significant events with the official announcement of Jean Todt’s candidacy for the position of FIA president. We will examine his motivations and the impressions of the current president, Max Mosley. Finally, as Sébastien Bourdais has left, another driver might be dismissed from his team. Nelson Piquet Jr is at the center of discussions with Renault and could give up his race seat after Sunday’s race.

A Formula 1 Devoid of Any French Driver!

The information was revealed Thursday morning by the team and quickly spread like wildfire across all media, including casinoenlignefrance.eu.com: Sébastien Bourdais has been removed from his position as a race driver. The Frenchman had already gone through a difficult winter as he was put in competition, notably with Takuma Sato, for a race seat in 2009. He was eventually chosen for his experience and completed a second year with the small Italian team, Scuderia Toro Rosso. His career at Toro Rosso was thus already compromised, especially since during the 2008 season, he did not live up to the great champion he was and still is across the Atlantic. However, he made it to the starting grid of the first GP of the season in Australia and there, oh joy (!), he finished 8th and scored his first point in the first race of the season. But just like in 2008, he failed to deliver in the following races, even though he managed to bring another point to Toro Rosso. Moreover, he was regularly outperformed by his teammate, the young Buemi, a novice in the field. The situation was such that as soon as it came to Europe in May, rumors of an impending departure intensified. Everything was finally at stake between the British and German Grand Prix, where Red Bull’s junior team was exhausted by the Frenchman’s underperformance and particularly his complaints, as his car never met his expectations. The media, including casinoenlignefrance.eu.com, then spoke of an ultimatum given to Bourdais for the German race: Deliver convincing results or face the door! Ultimately, the second option proved correct since he retired early in the GP. Toro Rosso’s behavior towards him upon his return to the pits was the sign many were waiting for. Sébastien Bourdais is leaving Formula 1. Only the official announcement remains, as rumors grow more precise. Last Monday, Jaime Alguersuari was announced as his replacement in Hungary. Two days later, the young Spaniard was expected to be driving the STR4 by the end of the week. Finally, the ordeal for Bourdais would end on Thursday 16th with Toro Rosso’s official announcement via a press release. The Frenchman is obviously very disappointed and even angry since the new specifications of the STR4 are coming for the next Grand Prix. He is asking his lawyer to check whether the terms of his contract have been respected, as a precaution, but he will not hesitate to take Toro Rosso to court. Bourdais’ career in F1 might not be over, as a reminder, in 2010, three new teams are entering the championship, and there are six race seats to be filled. De la Rosa might have one with Campos, as well as two Americans with USF1, so there are still three left. Optimism always has its day…

Read the rumor about Alguersuari’s arrival as Bourdais’ replacement

Read the announcement of Alguersuari’s first tests on the STR4

Read the official announcement of Sébastien Bourdais’ dismissal

Read the Frenchman’s reactions

Read about the possibility of legal action against Toro Rosso

To be completely thorough on the matter, Jaime Alguersuari is indeed the replacement for Sébastien Bourdais since the official announcement came this morning. The young Spaniard is set to make his debut this Friday with the first practice sessions of the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit.

Read the official announcement of Jaime Alguersuari’s arrival in Formula 1

A Frenchman at the Head of the FIA?

Another confirmation last week came from Jean Todt, who is indeed entering the race for the presidency of the FIA. The elections will take place next October, and the Frenchman is the second candidate to officially announce his bid, after Vatanen. Rumors had been circulating for many months, and the Todt/Vatanen fight is expected to be fierce over the summer for the position of FIA president. What was less expected was the reaction of Max Mosley, the current head of the governing body. The Brit officially announces that he will resign from his post a few days before the elections but, more importantly, that he fully supports Todt’s candidacy. In essence, this is not a surprise given the past and present relationships of Ferrari with the governing team (FIA but also Bernie Ecclestone’s FOM).

Read the official announcement of Jean Todt’s candidacy

Read Max Mosley’s reactions

Piquet, the next driver to be fired?

The future of Nelson Piquet Jr within the Renault team took another hit last week. Last Tuesday, Flavio Briatore spoke up to confirm the uncertainty regarding the Brazilian’s future with his team. He couldn’t guarantee with certainty his presence for the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix. However, an official announcement was made three days later. Nelson Piquet is still a Renault driver at least until Sunday, but like Bourdais two weeks ago, everything could quickly unfold after the Hungarian race…

Read Flavio Briatore’s statements

Read the official announcement of Piquet’s presence in Hungary