Virgin: D’Ambrosio departs with “one of my best races”

2011 Brazilian GP team review

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Jerome D’Ambrosio was satisfied with his performance in his final race for Virgin.

Timo GlockJerome D’Ambrosio
Qualifying position2423
Qualifying time comparison (Q1)1’17.060 (+0.041)1’17.019
Race position19
Laps21/7168/71
Pit stops12

Virgin drivers’ lap times throughout the race (in seconds):

https://www.racefans.net/charts/2011drivercolours.csv

1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950515253545556575859606162636465666768697071
Timo Glock94.44583.94582.36882.18882.51182.00881.87181.79282.25482.49682.31582.37982.36481.77381.90581.80381.91281.83581.88182.09585.623
Jerome dAmbrosio93.7783.32682.24282.12281.85681.63681.73781.72581.87882.01481.86581.90782.03881.97781.70981.57681.77681.92383.12986.18698.12881.41980.80580.73980.8282.06381.2880.76481.7480.79880.78281.21881.54382.00881.27180.96982.76181.19981.02481.6286.19999.07981.37780.49980.26680.28181.25380.86881.24980.92880.44180.43580.99480.86480.9880.16680.44180.74680.46579.90281.08981.55382.22981.23581.33780.73180.33181.436

Timo Glock

Start tyreSoft
Pit stop 1Soft 22.452s

Glock had a frustrated weekend, qualifying last then retiring when his left-rear wheel fell off during his first pit stop. “A very disappointing way to end the season,” he said.

The team was fined ??5,000 for the infringement.

Timo Glock 2011 form guide

Jerome d’Ambrosio

Jerome D'Ambrosio, Virgin, Interlagos, 2011
Start tyreSoft
Pit stop 1Soft 21.859s
Pit stop 2Medium 23.542s

In his last race for Virgin, D’Ambrosio out-qualified his team mate, leaving Glock last on the grid.

He called the race “one of my best so far”, running ahead of Glock and Vitantonio Liuzzi before they retired.

However shortly after the race the team announced he was being replaced by Charles Pic for 2012.

Jerome d’Ambrosio 2011 form guide

2011 Brazilian Grand Prix

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    Image © Virgin Racing

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    16 comments on “Virgin: D’Ambrosio departs with “one of my best races””

    1. I gues there was not much Jerome could have done to prevent being ditched for next year. Really curious to see if he has any chance of racing something competative for the next years, with J. Booth calling his an “exiting future ahead”.

      Good luck Jerome, I think you did a solid job with the equipment given to you. Thanks.

      1. Well said, he has been impressive in very ordinary machinery this year. He definitely deserves another shot.

      2. I’ve heard that these Pirelli tyres that di Grassi is now testing are very exciting #blackhumour

        1. Auch that hurt @girts. And would we want to see one ex-Virgin oust another No-Virgin-anymore one at Pirelli?

          1. @bascb Well by taking ex-Virgins Pirelli can at least avoid HRTs :D

      3. @bascb I think your typo – “exiting future” – is probably truer than you intended it to be! ;)

        1. the mind’s playing tricks on me, subconscious thoughts boiling up there, I guess @tom-l! :-)

      4. Couldn’t have said it better myself.

      5. Sad to see a good rookie leave F1 (possibly forever) at such a young age, when he hasn’t been exactly as bad as Yuji Ide was.

      6. @BasCB The cruellest typo i’ve seen, “exiting future ahead”!

        1. sid_prasher (@)
          1st December 2011, 19:13

          +1

    2. Sometimes its sad to see how things work in F1.
      In cars like this we never get to know the real potential of the driver and this is even harder for a rookie and then all these go to virtual anonymity (adding to the list of Chandok, Di Grassi).
      But still,he impressed me whatever he had shown and wishing him luck to get at least a reserve role in faster teams.

    3. D’Ambrosio’s fate now reminds of Romain Grosjean’s. Getting a shot in F1 in difficult circumstances without much chance to shine. Nothing they could do to avoid being dropped come the end of the season.

      Grosjean’s done a good job in the last two years to get back up to where he is, and it’s only a matter of time before he gets a seat in F1. I really hope the same goes for D’Ambrosio, as I’ve found him one of the best personalities in the sport and he’s done a good job.

      I hate to say it, but it’s likely that’s the end of his career, which is a shame.

    4. D’Ambrosio has had a great season. As far as i’m concerned it’s tragic that he’s had to make way for Pic. I would have liked to believe that Marussia invested enough in order to pay for two major components; the drivers! I guess that’s me being naive though.

      Impressive result from him and disappointing for Glock. Disappointing that the loose wheel didn’t result in a Safety Car too!

    5. Farewell Virgin
      Farewell Custard
      Manor Racing, we hardly know ye

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