Sebastien Bourdais' manager insists there is a "strong chance" the 29-year-old French driver will retain his Toro Rosso Seat for next year.

The Faenza based team's chiefs are openly not in a hurry to determine the 2009 lineup, near the end of Bourdais' mixed first season in formula one which followed his ultra-successful career in American single seaters.

"As I have said often, there is a strong chance that Sebastien can remain at Toro Rosso," Nicolas Todt, who also handles the career of Ferrari's championship contender Felipe Massa, told French radio RMC.

"I am hopeful," Todt, also a Frenchman, added. "It is my task now to make sure he stays in formula one next season."

Todt, the son of the former Ferrari boss Jean Todt, admits that Bourdais' has not been a shining rookie season.

"I think for this reason some people could have some doubts about him.

"But I think Sebastien reacted well to his difficult period and has had some good performances, although not all of them rewarded," he said.

Source: GMM