Sébastien Bourdais

Sébastien Olivier Bourdais (born 28 February 1979 in Le Mans, France) is a French professional racing driver.

Formula One

Bourdais began his Formula One racing career in 2002, replacing Felipe Massa in the second Sauber. Bourdais took three sixth places over the course of the season which was enough for 15th in the standings. The Frenchman was retained for a second year in 2003 but a slow start to the season saw him replaced by Honda refugee Justin Wilson.

Bourdais would not return to the grid until 2008 when he was signed for Toro Rosso alongside Sebastian Vettel. Bourdais was a regular points scorer with the Red Bull junior team although he was outshone by his German teammate whom scored a maiden win for the team in Italy. Bourdais' best result was a fourth in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix - eventually finishing the year in fourteenth.

Vettel moved up to the main Red Bull team in 2009, leaving Bourdais as team leader alongside Belgian rookie Thomas De Bock.

With the dissolving of Toro Rosso and David Coulthard opting to retire ahead of 2010, Bourdais was named alongside Vettel once more - this time at the main Red Bull team on a two year deal. Bourdais was a revelation in this first year and despite not scoring any wins - Bourdais finished the season in fifth place overall.

Bourdais was promoted to team leader in 2011 when Vettel headed to Williams - with Jenson Button taking up the second Red Bull seat. Bourdais scored his first two wins in this season as well as his best championship finish with third overall. Despite this, Bourdais was not retained for 2012.

Bourdais returned to the grid two years later with Sauber.