Jarno Trulli will drive a new chassis Lotus T127 starting the European Grand Prix at Valencia, as confirmed by the team's technical chief Mike Gascoyne in a recent interview with Autosport. Although the new chassis was initially scheduled to go to Heikki Kovalainen two weekends from now, Trulli's constant struggling with the current car through the past few races have determined the team's officials to give the modified T127 to the Italian veteran.
There was a lot of fair play going on at the Norfolk factory also, as Trulli initially turned down his team's offer to take Kovalainen's place in the new car, as he didn't want the Finnish driver to feel like the No 2 driver in the team. However, once Gascoyne received the go-ahead from Kova, the final decision was made in favor of Trulli.
“Jarno has been pretty unhappy with the balance of his car and has been struggling. We have a new chassis scheduled to come for Valencia, and that was due to go to Heikki. But, because of Jarno's troubles, I made the call to change it to him,” said Gascoyne in the interview.
“But Jarno, when he was told, said, 'No, I don't want Heikki to feel that I am being favored, please feel free to give it to Heikki.' So I went up to Heikki and told him. Then he said, 'No, Jarno is struggling, give it to him!'” gladly added the Lotus boss, happy with the great relationship between his two drivers this season.
“It's a situation that sums up the great feeling within the team - that they are both trying to help each other. In the end we are going to give it to Jarno, but the two drivers are open to swapping it around afterwards,” continued Gascoyne.
The Lotus technical emphasized once again the big steps his team has taken in order to close the gap on the already established teams of F1 and hinted that his goals have changed after the Canadian Grand Prix.
“From the whole of the Canada weekend, the message is that it is time we stopped looking at being the best of the new teams and looking behind us. This is now about trying to out qualify a Sauber - trying to race the Williams and the Renault cars. It is about being a midfield team not just the best of the new boys. I think that is the statement we have made this weekend,” concluded Gascoyne.
There was a lot of fair play going on at the Norfolk factory also, as Trulli initially turned down his team's offer to take Kovalainen's place in the new car, as he didn't want the Finnish driver to feel like the No 2 driver in the team. However, once Gascoyne received the go-ahead from Kova, the final decision was made in favor of Trulli.
“Jarno has been pretty unhappy with the balance of his car and has been struggling. We have a new chassis scheduled to come for Valencia, and that was due to go to Heikki. But, because of Jarno's troubles, I made the call to change it to him,” said Gascoyne in the interview.
“But Jarno, when he was told, said, 'No, I don't want Heikki to feel that I am being favored, please feel free to give it to Heikki.' So I went up to Heikki and told him. Then he said, 'No, Jarno is struggling, give it to him!'” gladly added the Lotus boss, happy with the great relationship between his two drivers this season.
“It's a situation that sums up the great feeling within the team - that they are both trying to help each other. In the end we are going to give it to Jarno, but the two drivers are open to swapping it around afterwards,” continued Gascoyne.
The Lotus technical emphasized once again the big steps his team has taken in order to close the gap on the already established teams of F1 and hinted that his goals have changed after the Canadian Grand Prix.
“From the whole of the Canada weekend, the message is that it is time we stopped looking at being the best of the new teams and looking behind us. This is now about trying to out qualify a Sauber - trying to race the Williams and the Renault cars. It is about being a midfield team not just the best of the new boys. I think that is the statement we have made this weekend,” concluded Gascoyne.
Google News