Formula 1
Trulli admits Caterham toughest-ever challenge
Global Motorsport Media
Published: Jan 20, 2012, 12:39 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Jarno Trulli has admitted that trying to get Caterham up to speed in Formula One is the toughest challenge of his long Formula One career.
With 13 seasons, approaching a dozen podiums and a Monaco victory under his belt, the veteran Italian switched to the new Tony Fernandes-headed team - then called Lotus - in 2010.
Jarno Trulli, Team Lotus
Photo by: xpb.cc
Trulli, now 37, was a refugee of the defunct Toyota project, a team with arguably F1's biggest annual budgets last decade.
He had switched there from Renault just before Fernando Alonso took that team to back-to-back titles, and also had experience with smaller teams Jordan, Prost and Minardi.
But Trulli says Caterham has been the toughest of all.
Last season, for example, he struggled for pace with a power steering system he could not adapt to.
"It became a crucial problem," he told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport. "You do not have the resources and as a small team there are more important tasks.
"I have to admit that it was a problem that has affected me with other teams as well. But they were bigger and we could resolve it quickly.
"People don't realise how difficult it is to start with a team from zero, as we did. At the beginning of my career I was with Minardi, but this has been much more difficult.
"Each wrong turn you make is felt for a very long time."
It is rumoured Trulli, despite his signed 2012 contract, could lose the seat before Melbourne to a sponsor-backed driver.
The goal for this season is to be better than 2011
Jarno Trulli
He denied that speculation and said he is expecting a much better season in 2012.
"I have confidence in the team," said Trulli. "Over the years we have made a lot of progress. We have made great steps forward even if from the outside that hasn't always been seen.
"The goal for this season is to be better than 2011 -- we have more resources, more experience and more people.
"We were looking for points last season; now the goal is to fight for points in the middle group."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Austin venue to be finished in August - reports
Next article Schumacher not ideal teammate for Rosberg - Hill
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin knew before Mexico GP it would not finish, Honda brings new countermeasures
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
Aston Martin knew before Mexico GP it would not finish, Honda brings new countermeasures
Why Honda’s power unit lasted barely five laps in F1 Mexico GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Why Honda’s power unit lasted barely five laps in F1 Mexico GP
More from
Team Lotus
Emerson Fittipaldi on Jochen Rindt’s death and how he became Team Lotus’ F1 leader
Formula 1
Formula 1
Emerson Fittipaldi on Jochen Rindt’s death and how he became Team Lotus’ F1 leader
On this day: Ayrton Senna beats Nigel Mansell to victory by 0.01s
Formula 1
Formula 1
On this day: Ayrton Senna beats Nigel Mansell to victory by 0.01s
Latest news
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
3 h
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
4 h
Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale
Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
4 h
Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
5 h
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
Feature
Discover prime content
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Formula 1
By Pat Symonds
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe