F1 links: Bourdais may sue Toro Rosso
17th July 2009, 0:47 by Keith Collantine 33 Comments »
Sebastien Bourdais isn’t taking his dismissal by Toro Rosso lying dow – he’s threatening to launch a legal action against them. I can’t imagine it being successful, but stranger things have happened…
"I consider that, in doing so, Scuderia Toro Rosso has breached its contractual duties towards me; also I believe that nothing in my behavior would legitimate a decision of the Team to terminate the contract. I think that the Team’s decision is in clear violation of Scuderia Toro Rosso’s obligations under the agreement. I have instructed my lawyers to review the situation including the possibility of issuing legal proceedings."
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TommyB said on 17th July 2009, 1:18
Sue Toro Rosso for him being rubbish?
You can tell his been living in America for a long time
YeaMon said on 17th July 2009, 21:25
That’s quite an ignorant thing to say.
Gman said on 17th July 2009, 21:42
Absolutley agree YeaMon.
Hammad said on 17th July 2009, 1:27
2 articles in german? :S
wasiF1 said on 17th July 2009, 2:06
Todt is not a neutral candidate as he has been with Ferrari for many years,so will it create any trouble.
Or will it help FOTA?
LewisC said on 17th July 2009, 3:37
Bourdais suing Toro Rosso for breach of contract is the funniest thing I’ve seen all week.
I think they could quite easily sue him on the grounds that the contract says “We’ll give you money in exchange for you driving our cars quickly” – something he hasn’t done all year.
TommyB said on 17th July 2009, 13:18
Haha top comment
sumedh said on 17th July 2009, 20:32
Bourdias is probably suing Toro Rosso for replacing him by a driver who is not even named Sebastian.
How illegal of the team to do that. Violation of Toro Rosso policy, I say.
DC said on 17th July 2009, 6:07
I don’t know what Bourdais is thinking. He is automatically excluded from ever touching an F1 car again. Who would consider employing him if he sues his old team? It is just like Scott Speed a couple of years ago – the instant he flipped out in public about his former team you knew his career was over.
It’s sad, really. I always liked Bourdais and have been watching him race for years. Now it’s back to Indy Car or sports cars for him.
gabal said on 17th July 2009, 6:16
I guess he is after money – there is no way they will let him drive now…
mp4-19b said on 17th July 2009, 7:31
he must sue his a** for not performing. get back to carting dear “sea buss” & win one more championship. i’m not saying this young unproven spanish teenager is the correct choice, but seb’s time has come. he’s had plenty of opportunity, but has blown it. muhahahaha
Dougie said on 17th July 2009, 10:00
I would agree that Seb’s time is up… but like any driver anywhere, and anybody here would be the same in that position, he is under contract to drive the car until year end, which he has been doing. Okay maybe not as well as he was expected to be doing, but let’s face it the car deserves to be at the back.
Anyway, the point is the contract. He has family, a livelyhood to keep, and he had a contract for the year. Now, all he is saying is, have STR breached that contract, are there early termination clauses? If not, then they are due him the remainder of his salary. Anybody with a job doing anything, you and me included, will be doing the same thing, either with Lawyers or with unions, whatever.
I doubt he’ll go back to the states, I get the impression the family want to stay in Europe and Sports Cars or Touring Cars may be the way forward now.
mp4-19b said on 17th July 2009, 10:35
hope he takes some advice from jean & alain.
mf said on 17th July 2009, 10:18
Bourdais – class act.
Give him a McLaren last year and he would have been WDC – mark my words.
Especially you, Tommy B, you sycophant.
John H said on 17th July 2009, 14:08
Class acts always get continuously out-qualified by a rookie.*
*note: sarcasm.
Dougie said on 17th July 2009, 14:31
Qualifying: Bourdais 2 Buemi 7
Fastest Lap: Bourdais 4 Buemi 5
Race: Bourdais 3 Buemi 6
Retirements: Bourdais 3 Buemi 2
Points: Bourdais 2 Buemi 3
I think his performance is respectable, but not startling, bearing in mind the crap car. There are a number of worse teammate comparisons out there, and the Rookie status means less these days than before, just ask Hamilton, Rosberg and Button from his first year.
John H said on 17th July 2009, 22:20
Yes, I think I went a bit too far there – he’s not been too bad, I guess after his champ car exploits people were just expecting a bit more.
Also, who knows what’s really been going on behind the scences – perhaps Bourdais could have a point.
TommyB said on 17th July 2009, 18:56
Class act in Champ Car maybe but not F1.
PrisonerMonkeys said on 17th July 2009, 11:07
Nothing in his behaviour would be legitimate to dismiss him?
So what does he call being out-qualified and out-raced by his team-mate then?
mf said on 17th July 2009, 12:36
That’s not really behaviour though is it?
pSynrg said on 17th July 2009, 12:37
Bourdais didn’t live up to his promise in F1. However clearly a great driver overall.
If Torro Rosso have acted against contractual agreements then he’s well within his rights to seek compensation!
DC said on 17th July 2009, 13:04
I’m sure every contract has some sort of clause where the driver can be fired – even Alonso, Hamilton, Räikkönen… Now exactly what that clause might be is undoubtedly different between each driver, based upon their skill, history, personal sponsors and the skill of their agent. But if they misbehave or don’t perform up to some standard measure, they can be fired. Hence Bourdais is up, and Piquet may be too – but Autosport is saying that he can’t be fired unless he has the same equipment as Alonso (which he evidently hasn’t had all the time.)
John H said on 17th July 2009, 14:04
He’s in a job. He’s not performing. He got the sack.
Sounds simple to me. DC is right, surely every driver has a clause in there.
Bourdais has done his chances of a drive next year (6 extra seats) no good whatsover. Very silly.
lionfan99 said on 17th July 2009, 16:13
Even if he has a legitimate legal reason to sue STR, he should not have gone about issuing a press release stating his intentions. Just let thank the team for the oppportunity publicly and keep your mouth shut while your lawyers go tangle with the team’s in the background.
Dougie said on 17th July 2009, 18:01
This I have to agree with, good point lionfan99
Filipe said on 17th July 2009, 20:44
I agree. It’s worth to point out that STR own release was also much less friendly than expected pretty much blaming the driver and throwing him under the bus. None of us have details, but what looked like would be a friendly affair (at least as far as this thing can be) must have become pretty ugly in the earlier days of the week.
Wesley said on 17th July 2009, 23:07
hear…hear lionfan99.
No need to burn bridges…nor,sling mud at the team who gave you the chance at the top of motor racing.
I still say he would have performed well if he wasn’t driving that dog of a car but,I suppose he will never get that chance.
James Brickles said on 17th July 2009, 23:24
“Sebastien Bourdais isn’t taking his dismissal by Toro Rosso lying dow”
Surely, you mean down?