The explanation came immediately from Renault, whose officials confirmed Senna as one of the squad's reserve drivers for the 2011 campaign. Additionally, the rumors about Lotus Renault signing former F1 racer Romain Grosjean for the same job were also confirmed, as the Swiss-born driver was also part of the team's presentation on Monday.
“It's a great moment for me,” said Senna, despite common view that getting to be a reserve driver to a team after having competed as a race driver for another is a step back.
“I've been trying to get into a good Formula 1 programme for a couple of years so it feels great to be joining such an established team. I'm proud of this achievement and thankful for the opportunity that I've been given.”
“Being part of this project will give me so much valuable experience and it's down to me to make the most of it. I hope that I can develop myself and prove to the team that I should be given an opportunity for the future,” he added.
Grosjean on the other hand, has spent the last year racing in other series, but still thinking of a return to Formula 1. In the end, the driver who used to drive for the Enstone based team back in 2008 got his with Renault, signing for a reserve deal that he hopes will take him to a race seat in 2012.
“For sure it's a great feeling,” said Grosjean, whose career being managed by the Gravity organization (where Renault team boss Eric Boullier used to be a manager) has helped him return to Enstone. “I think it's the best option for me to get back in a [Formula 1] racing car in 2012.”
Part of Lotus Renault's reserve driver scheme for 2011 will also be Ho-Pin Tung and Jan Charouz – both managed by the same Gravity firm – along with former Team Lotus reserve driver Fairuz Fauzy.
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