Sebastien Bourdais says the FIA and FOTA's efforts to reduce Formula 1 budgets ended up being crucial to him retaining his Toro Rosso seat.

The team had originally sought a driver with personal sponsorship to replace Red Bull Racing-bound Sebastian Vettel, but leading candidates Bourdais and Takuma Sato both struggled to find sufficient backing.

For much of the winter Sato seemed to be edging ahead in the race to partner rookie Sebastien Buemi at Toro Rosso, before Bourdais ultimately secured a second season after all.

The Frenchman said the situation swung back in his favour when the cost-cutting measures were announced, reducing STR's need for extra funding.

"The choice of driver was firstly linked to the need to find sponsors, then it wasn't, and then it was again," Bourdais told French newspaper L'Equipe.

"Originally it was in effect essential, but then when all the cost-saving measures were taken into account, it was clear that Red Bull would save 100 million dollars on its two teams.
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"All of a sudden it became much less of a concern and I was back at the head of the queue compared to their initial preferences.

"Previously [manager] Nicolas Todt had looked everywhere for backers but it didn't go as he would've liked because of the difficult economic climate."

Bourdais admitted that it had been a stressful winter as he waited to hear if he would be retained.

"I've tried not to take it personally," he said.

"I fully understood that it was linked to the economic context – which was complicated for both the team and the wider economy.

"There was a moment when it was truly hard.

"The situation was just unbearable. It's taken time, quite simply.

"From a competitive standpoint I saw that the team had a real wish for continuity and to do a second season with me – there was a certain investment made last year.

"As far as I'm concerned, we didn't really have success and therefore it would've been a shame to end it there.

"It was the wish of [team boss] Franz Tost, the engineers and the mechanics to ensure that there was a sequel to the story because we saw there was potential last year."

Bourdais spent much of 2008 in the shadow of team-mate Vettel, and although his performances improved in the latter part of the season, he did not manage to finish higher than seventh.

source[www.itv-f1.com]