Bourdais eyes legal action against STR

Following days of speculation about Bourdais' future, Toro Rosso announced on Thursday morning that the Frenchman had competed in his last race for the team at the German Grand Prix.

Reacting to the news, Bourdais has expressed his shock at the announcement and revealed that he is consulting his lawyers to see if the team breached its contract with him.

"I am very disappointed and shocked by the decision taken by Scuderia Toro Rosso of not allowing me to drive for the team until the end of the current season," said Bourdais, in a statement issued on Thursday night.

"I consider that, in doing so, Scuderia Toro Rosso has breached its contractual duties towards me; also I believe that nothing in my behaviour would legitimate a decision of the team to terminate the contract.

"I think that the team's decision is in clear violation of Scuderia Toro Rosso's obligations under the agreement. I have instructed my lawyers to review the situation including the possibility of issuing legal proceedings."

As well as his anger at Toro Rosso's move to drop him, Bourdais has expressed further irritation because it comes on the eve of the introduction of a major new car update for the Hungarian GP.

"I am even more frustrated by the team's decision considering that the latter has been taken immediately before the Hungarian Grand Prix, where a new highly competitive racing package will be introduced by the team in order to try and overcome its current difficulties," said Bourdais.

"I am convinced that if I was given the chance to race with such a new package I would have had the opportunity to achieve satisfactory results."

Bourdais also told his fans that he remained committed to making a success of his F1 career.