If it wasn't for the dramatic cost-cutting measures introduced by the FIA at the end of the 2008 season, then Sebastien Bourdais may well have missed out on securing a race seat this year.
Bourdais initially looked like he was on his way out of F1 after Toro Rosso made it clear that they are looking for a driver with personal sponsorship. However, the team later changed their mind after motorsport's governing body announced major cost-cutting measures.
Frenchman Bourdais, who was competing with Takuma Sato for the final seat at STR, admits things didn't look very rosy in the beginning as he struggled to find financial backers.
"The choice of driver was firstly linked to the need to find sponsors, and then it wasn't, and then it was again," he told French newspaper L'Equipe.
"Originally it was effectively essential, and then when all the cost-saving measures were taken into account, it was clear that Red Bull would save $100 million on its two teams.
"All of a sudden it became much less of a worry 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."
The 29-year-old says although the situation "unbearable", he didn't take it personally.
"I've tried not to take it personally," he added.
"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 it had potential last year."
Source:
http://www.planetf1.com