Bourdais soon to be replaced by Pantano at Toro Rosso?

This is the latest rumor from the Italian media: Sébastien Bourdais might not be racing in Formula 1 for much longer. Although the Frenchman extended his contract with Scuderia Toro Rosso for an additional year in 2009, his disappointing performances in the first five races would probably cost him his seat with the Faenza team.

According to Italian media, GP2 champion Giorgio Pantano is just one step away from replacing Bourdais at Toro Rosso. All the GP2 championship winners had moved to F1 the following year until Pantano, who broke this tradition due to a lack of offers during the winter.

Bourdais went through very difficult times—after a winter he himself described as horrible—to secure his place in F1 in 2009, following a battle against former Super-Aguri driver Takuma Sato. He was ultimately confirmed less than two months before the start of the season in Australia and was regularly beaten by his teammate and rookie Sébastien Buemi.

The only French driver competing in F1 scored a point this season, thanks to Lewis Hamilton’s exclusion in Australia. Buemi, on his part, made two appearances in the top 8 in the first five races, in Australia and China, also to his credit qualifying for Q3 in Shanghai for his third qualification.

Giorgio Pantano already had the opportunity to be part of the F1 grid in 2004 with Jordan. After a disappointing start to the season, he was replaced for the last races by Timo Glock. If Pantano doesn’t make it to Formula 1 this year, it is likely he will join the Renault Eurocup, probably in the Mégane Trophy.