Italian driver Jarno Trulli lashes out at the trend of pay drivers in the sport – Formula 1 news
Italian driver Jarno Trulli has lashed out at the growing trend of pay drivers in Formula 1.
A lot of teams recently have been looking for pay drivers to fulfil their financial needs, especially the midfield and lower ranked teams.
Rubens Barrichello the most experienced driver in the history of the sport lost his race seat after 2011 season ended. He was quoted as saying that he is still on the lookout for a race seat and will be looking for sponsor backings as well to secure a race
seat if that is what needed to be done to get one. It showed the influence of the trend in the sport.
Trulli who still has a contract with Caterham till the end of 2012 has been under some pressure from rumours of Vitaly Petrov being in talks with Caterham. Trulli understandably not pleased with the situation took a subtle jab at the speculation and said
that Renault had Robert Kubica who is a really good driver capable of greater achievements and that is what made the team dark horses. After he was replaced with Petrov teaming up with Bruno Senna both of whom brought in handsome sponsorships, the team lost
that edge.
“[Robert] Kubica is a great driver who can get the very best from the car,” Trulli told La Repubblica. “Because of that they were a dark horse. When Robert was out, that was the end. Petrov was not in a position to lead the team, and Senna showed that he
was not good enough.”
“For a team it has always been about finding the right balance between financial considerations and talent. It's something that is as old as Formula One,” Red Bull boss Christian Horner said.
Trulli suggested that drivers who get the race seats because of the money they bring in are more likely to take their seats for granted and are not as committed. He believes that hiring pay drivers is a business decision that is not worth it in the long-run.
It would be interesting to note how the rumours of Petrov replacing Trulli shape up as the 2012 season approaches fast.
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