Pedro de la Rosa: “We’ve Taken A Step Forward”

Pedro de la Rosa believes HRT have taken another step forward after a relatively successful Japanese Grand Prix, which saw the Spaniard finish 18th. Team-mate Narain Karthikeyan was unfortunately unable to finish the race, after the team decided to retire the Indian due to safety issues regarding the bottom of the car.

After starting the race from 20th and 24th respectively, both Pedro de la Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan were able to avoid the first lap incidents which forced Championship leader Fernando Alonso to retire. This enabled the duo to rise to 16th and 19th respectively after the opening lap, however a problem for the Spaniard during his first pitstop saw him drop back through the order. However, de la Rosa is still positive with the improvements made by the team, as they continue to progress towards the back of the pack.

“Today’s race was quite good and we could say we’ve taken a step forward, although we still have plenty to do.” Explained Pedro de la Rosa, “The first stint was good but we had a problem in the first pitstop which made me lose quite a lot of time. My times with the hard tyres towards the end were very good and we were right in there. The car was handling well and we got close to Pic and Petrov, which for us, at a track like this, is fantastic.”

Narain Karthikeyan was unable to finish the Japanese Grand Prix, after the team decided to retire his machine after his second pitstop due to an issue with the bottom of the car. This was the Indian driver’s second retirement in succession, after hitting the wall last time out at Singapore. Regardless of this stat, the 35-year-old Indian remains confident both he and HRT can continue improve next time out at the Korean Grand Prix.

Picture Copyright © HRT F1 Team

Narain Karthikeyan: “I Completed An Almost Perfect Lap”

Narain Karthikeyan enjoyed yet another competitive qualifying session today around the Marina Bay street circuit, in preparation for tomorrow’s Singapore Grand Prix. Although the Indian driver will start the race from a lowly 23rd on the grid, it was the second race weekend in succession where he out-qualified his team-mate.

This weekend has seen HRT introduce several new upgrades to their car, including a new floor. With Pedro de la Rosa set to incur a 5-place grid penalty due to a gearbox change, it was a forgone conclusion that the Spaniard would start tomorrow’s race from 24th and last. However, Narain Karthikeyan completed what he regarded as an almost perfect lap around the tricky confines of the Marina Bay street circuit to beat his vastly experienced team-mate.

“I’m happy because in qualifying I completed an almost perfect lap.” Explained Narain Karthikeyan, “I’m pushing very hard and I think that right now I’m driving very well. I’m very comfortable within the team, they help me a lot and make me feel at home, and when the atmosphere is that good it’s easy to perform well. I’ve done two good consecutive qualifying sessions and I hope to keep that momentum. Tomorrow’s race will be tough physically and mentally but we will fight to achieve the best possible result.”

With speculation ripe within the F1 paddock this weekend that HRT’s reserve driver Dani Clos could receive a promotion within the team and replace Karthikeyan next season, the Indian driver is certainly proving his worth to the team behind the wheel of the F112. Although tomorrow’s Singapore Grand Prix will be exceedingly tough on the teams and drivers, Karthikeyan will be striving for a competitive result at the back of the pack.

Picture Copyright © HRT F1 Team

Life At The Back Of The Pack

Over recent years’, the life at the back of the pack in Formula 1 has got increasingly difficult. With the addition of new media technologies, a drivers’ individual race can be analyzed lap-by-lap, potentially showing any minor flaws that would beforehand have gone unnoticed.

During the Malaysian Grand Prix, the HRT of Narain Karthikeyan made contact with two World Champions’ of the sport, both incidents ruining their races and resulting in them finishing much further down the order than they are accustomed to. Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel are the two most recent World Champions’ in F1, and you’d think would be highly capable passing a much slower car be it either for position or simply lapping the car.

However, both Button and Vettel made contact with Karthikeyan and both were forced to pit for repairs. Button damaged his front nose, whereas Vettel picked up a puncture which shredded the tyre. Where Jenson Button took full responsibility for the incident, reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel threw his toys out of the pram and called the Indian driver both an “idiot” and a “gherkin”, but how difficult is it for drivers’ at the back of the pack?

Whilst most of the attention is mainly focused at the sharp end of the field, drivers’ such as Glock, Pic, de la Rosa and Karthikeyan may well be woefully off the pace and struggling for position, but they most certainly have their work cut out for the duration of their race. Lots of criticism meets these drivers’ when the leaders’ begin lapping them, as they frantically try and both let the leaders’ through, but also keep their own personal race alive as they battle with each other. 

This factor was evident in Malaysia, as Karthikeyan was visibly both trying to let Vettel though, keep up with the pace of the Marussia in front and remain aware of where Webber was behind him. Inevitably this all become too much and concentration levels dipped as the Indian collided with Vettel. Naturally when this occurs, both the driver, team and race fans across the globe raise their hands in dismay, but it’s very rare for it to be 100% malice from the driver getting lapped. 

Another factor is where exactly are the lapped drivers’ supposed to go? If they stray off the racing line, their tyres will collect marbles, which will therefore affect their own personal race. If they remain on the racing line, forcing the lapping cars’ to stray off the line, then they also will collect marbles and have their race affected. It’s a vicious circle that the blue flags can’t always solve. 

This problem doesn’t just occur at the back of the pack, as the drivers’ lap more and more cars, they will eventually begin to lap cars’ nearer the points. This therefore means these drivers’ have more to fight for and fasters cars, which means it all becomes increasingly confusing and difficult for the drivers’, marshals, and race stewards alike. The drivers’ have to both continue their individual race pace, allow the faster cars’ through, and watch for blue flags. The marshals have to spot the “slower” cars and wave the blue flags at them, and the race stewards have to decide if certain drivers’ should be penalized for impeding others. No wonder tempers rise, like with Vettel in Malaysia.

There has been criticism of the blue flags in the recent years, most notably from Caterham team boss Tony Fernandes who said they should be banned as all cars on the track are racing. That is a fair statement, yet if these incidents’ occur with blue flags, imagine the hell that would break loose if they were banned!

Either way, it’s tough work for all involved out there. It’s fair to remember that although cars’ at the rear of the order may not be as important as the race leader, they are all individually committed to their own race, be it for 23rd or 3rd.

Picture Copyright © HRT F1 Team