Dumping Trulli 'a no-brainer' - Jones

Feb.21 (GMM) 1980 world champion Alan Jones has backed Caterham's decision to dump Jarno Trulli.

Jarno Trulli, Caterham Team

Photo by: xpb.cc

Despite having extended the Italian veteran's contract for 2012, the former Lotus team decided at the last minute to sign the well-backed Russian Petrov.

Caterham explained that Petrov brings "fresh impetus" to the team, whilst also admitting that the decision was made "with a realistic eye on the global economic market".

One French report has calculated the 27-year-old's sponsorship contributions at EUR 12 million, including money from Russia's largest petrochemical company Sibur. But the straight-talking Australian Jones, who won Williams' first drivers' title three decades ago, said Caterham was also right to oust Italian Trulli on performance criteria.

I think he was destroyed by everybody, wasn't he?

Alan Jones about Jarno Trulli

Told that Heikki Kovalainen "destroyed" Trulli in 2011, Jones said: "I think he was destroyed by everybody, wasn't he?"

On Caterham's decision, he told GMM: "In my opinion Trulli wasn't doing the job so it would have made it a pretty easy decision to get in this younger guy who is perhaps a bit keener, a big hungrier.

"It's also a fact that he (Petrov) is bringing in money, so to me it's a no-brainer," added Jones.