Lotus team principal Eric Boullier says he expects Kimi Raikkonen will be well enough to drive on the final day of testing tomorrow.
Raikkonen missed the penultimate day of testing due to food poisoning, said Boullier.
“He’s getting better,” Boullier told media in Barcelona. “I think he’s missing driving, he tells me he wants to drive tomorrow, he feels ready to drive tomorrow.”
“So I’m going to wait for the final assessment of our doctors but I think he’s going to be OK.”
Third driver Davide Valsecchi was pressed into action to drive for the team at short notice but some time was lost preparing the car for him.
“Changing drivers with late notice is complicated when you have to re-do the [seating] position,” explained Boullier.
“Obviously a lot of time was lost today. But at the end we did a decent mileage, 61 laps, not great but better than nothing. At least we good do some long run on the high fuel so keep working on make the car reliable and keep some understanding of the tyres.”
Boullier praised Valsecchi’s efforts in the car at short notice: “I feel sorry for him, this morning it was a bit of a shock for him.”
“But good news, obviously, and I think he did a very good job being as ready as we could but obviously he’s still lacking some experience in Formula One.”
Valsecchi was pleased with his brief run in the car: “For me to be able to get immediately on the pace means that the car is certainly fast and competitive.
“It was a fantastic opportunity; I sat in the seat of a former world champion so I knew that I?d be fast for sure.”
Romain Grosjean returned from France to drive in the afternoon. Boullier said he will remain in Barcelona in case Raikkonen is unable to drive tomorrow.
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The Saint
2nd March 2013, 20:45
It’s a warning to all of us : Never go to a tapas bar and order fish if you are booked for a F1 test session next morning.
BasCB (@bascb)
3rd March 2013, 7:37
Yes, good advice, let us hope we DO need it one day :-)
Suave (@suave)
2nd March 2013, 21:02
I’m not fluent but I do speak a little bit of Finnish, and I believe that “food poisoning” translates to “vodka hangover” in English.
PaulK (@paulk)
2nd March 2013, 21:39
:) Where’s the like button when you need it?
Brace (@brace)
2nd March 2013, 22:45
Yeah, I was thinking the same. Friday night in Spain, school year still two weeks away… Kimi just saw the gap and went for it. :)
BasCB (@bascb)
3rd March 2013, 7:37
Yes, that would likely go away after a day of rest!
Joe Papp (@joepa)
2nd March 2013, 22:52
Contrast
with
Talk about two very different focal points in the same scenario!