French racer Bourdais wants to put a difficult debut season behind him in 2009

"I expected more from Sebastien Bourdais this season and his poor performances have surprised me and many others

"Occasionally, the Frenchman was every bit as fast as his former team-mate Sebastian Vettel in 2008 but with the German now at Red Bull, Bourdais hasn't stepped up as Toro Rosso team leader.

"Bourdais, who won four Champ Car Series titles in the US, has not shown any qualifying speed this season.

"And to my utter amazement he has allowed 2009 rookie Sebastien Buemi to outperform him."

What three words would you use to describe what it's like to be a Formula One driver?
At the beginning of 2008 it would have been fun, fun, fun. The second part would have been tough, tough, tough. I guess, it's probably a mix of those two. It's fun, it's tough and it's not forgiving.

What is the biggest perk of the job?
To drive the quickest car in the world.

How would you like to be remembered as an F1 driver?
I don't care if I'm going to be remembered, I just want to feel like I've given my very best and been judged upon that - and not on the 2008 season, which was a bit sketchy.

What is your most embarrassing sporting moment?
There has been a few! One of the most embarrassing was in Champ Car when I hit the wall in the warm-up in Milwaukee, disconnecting the pit speed limiter.

Who is the worst dressed Formula One driver?
I want to use my joker, I don't want to answer this one! I don't want to offend anyone.

Ayrton Senna or Alain Prost?
Senna, definitely.

Spa or Monaco?
I can't choose between Spa and Monaco. They are both one of a kind, it's hard to compare. But they might be my favourites of both worlds.

BOURDAIS STATS & FACTS Team: Toro Rosso Team-mate: Sebastien Buemi Car number: 11 Nationality: French Born: 28/02/1979, Le Mans Grand Prix debut: Australia 2008 Grands Prix entered: 25 Highest race finish: 7th (x2) Points: 6

If you weren't an F1 driver what would you be?
If I was not an F1 driver, I would be a driver somewhere else in the States or somewhere. But if I was not a driver at all, I don't know. I was studying engineering, so I might be in computer or software design.

Who is the greatest sportsman of all time?
That's a tough question. I don't know. I would say Michael Jordan, but there are so many other great champions as well who are probably less known.

What would be your perfect day off?
A perfect day off would be a nice bike ride, stay with the family around the lake on a summer day, and then to go watch a movie with some friends and have a nice dinner together. That would be a really nice day!

Where is your favourite place to go on holiday?
I don't have a favourite place, I never go on holiday. Holidays, right now, I always choose home. It's not a place where I stay very much. Usually when I am not working, I like not to travel.

Apart from a house what is the most expensive thing that you own?
Well, it's a house in the States.

What is your favourite item of clothing?
Shirts.

What is your favourite music to drive to?
I like pop and rock in general but it changes all the time.

Which famous person - dead or alive - would you like to have dinner with and why?
I like to have dinner with people I know, not with famous people.

Tell us something about yourself that most F1 fans might not know
My second first name is Olivier.

Steve McQueen or Paul Newman?
Paul Newman.

Boxers or briefs?
My wife prefers boxers and I prefer briefs, so I wear both.

Angelina Jolie or Keira Knightley?
Keira Knightley.

James Bond or Austin Powers?
James Bond.

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