Virgin team principal John Booth admits his team face a difficult start to 2011 as their new car isn’t quick enough.
However he says the team’s current situation is “like night and day compared with 12 months ago” when the team made a troubled start to its first F1 season.
Booth said: “We fully expect the first few races to be challenging in terms of outright pace, but I’m comfortable that prioritising reliability and strategy will help our big picture and we’ll be in a much better place for the rest of the season.
“I’m looking forward to a more straightforward week of preparation leading up to the first race and to planning our opening race strategy in rather more calm circumstances than last year. Albert Park is a fantastic circuit that has produced some truly memorable racing and I hope we can do ourselves justice there.”
Timo Glock says he regrets missing the final pre-season test following his appendix operation: “The last three weeks have been less than ideal as I lost a lot of crucial track time.
“I spent a lot of time over the winter getting ahead of the curve with my fitness though and now I am thankful for that as I haven’t suffered as much as I could have. I’ve been doing a lot of cycling in particular and I’m pretty pleased with where I’m at, all things considered.”
Team mate Jerome d’Ambrosio is looking forward to his first F1 start: “Now that it’s just around the corner, I’m really starting to get excited about the first race in Melbourne.
“It’s kind of strange because I’ve been driving for the team since September last year and after four Friday free practice sessions and five tests since that time, I still have my F1 debut to look forward to. It’s been pretty busy until now but it has started to hit home and I’m really looking forward to it. Sunday will be a big day for me.
“I’ve had the best preparation I can imagine with so much running in all of the pre-season tests. I’ve also spent plenty of time in the simulator to prepare for Albert Park specifically. I’ve also spent the weeks since the last test in Barcelona really consolidating my fitness and I’m ready to start racing now. I’ve never been to Melbourne but I’ve heard great things, so I can’t wait to see it for myself.”
2011 Australian Grand Prix
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Image © Pirelli
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
21st March 2011, 8:37
I actually think Vigin have done the right thing. Speed is nice, but if you don’t have the reliability to back it up, you’re up the proverbial creek. And the Pirelli tyres mean there’s a real chance the “new” teams can pick up points. Especially in the early races.
Alex White
21st March 2011, 8:44
I agree, But I wouldn’t call them new anymore. Perhaps ‘Younger’ is a better word.
So yeah, I hope the team do a good bit better than last year, they still have the best looking car on the entire grid :D
GeeMac (@geemac)
21st March 2011, 9:59
Isn’t “Sophomore” the American word for someone in their second year of school/university?
Joey-Poey (@joey-poey)
21st March 2011, 17:34
you are correct
Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk)
21st March 2011, 11:27
I agree, reliability is the key to finishing a race in any position. I’d alternately set their 2 cars up differently for each race. One for speed, the other for trying to crash the engine and drive train and anything else that breaks, the the other for reliability.
Compare the stats. They most likely wont be getting any points, so think outside the box.
Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk)
21st March 2011, 11:36
Errrm… that looks like 3 cars to me, Luca is finally getting to me.
Please read as 2 cars.
Mike
21st March 2011, 10:02
To me it seems Virgin just haven’t made “the jump” that Lotus has, to join the main F1 teams. The car still looks out of place. To be honest, I think for them 2011 represents their first year part 2.
But I hope I’m wrong and they are more competitive than that.
Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk)
21st March 2011, 11:19
Honestly the jokes on this headline are endless!
But I’m not going to say a word!
Icthyes
21st March 2011, 12:52
Glock regrets not spending more time in his Virgin.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
21st March 2011, 18:24
Isn’t that pretty much an oxymoron…?
Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
21st March 2011, 13:02
How funny (and awesome) would it be if come Melbourne, the untested HRT beats the Virgin in speed?
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
22nd March 2011, 1:17
Still making a car with CFD is not a good recipe for racing in F1.Last year they were short with fuel tank.If they want to achieve something in F1 they have to go for wind tunnel.