Van der Garde eyes 'plan B' after Virgin setback
Giedo van der Garde and his management have started work on 'plan B', after missing out on the second Virgin race cockpit for 2011. The Dutchman, managed and sponsored by officials of the McGregor fashion brand, was in the running for the seat ...
Giedo van der Garde and his management have started work on 'plan B', after missing out on the second Virgin race cockpit for 2011.
The Dutchman, managed and sponsored by officials of the McGregor fashion brand, was in the running for the seat alongside Timo Glock until the British team said on Tuesday it has signed Belgian Jerome d'Ambrosio.
Asked if he had heard the news before Virgin's press release was issued, 25-year-old van der Garde told the Dutch press: "No, we were not informed in advance.
"It is unfortunate, but what you do know in advance is how difficult it is to get a Formula One seat," he admitted.
"F1 remains the goal even if it is a tough business. You have to ignore the setbacks and keep going."
The Dutch magazine formule1.nl said 'plan B' for van der Garde is another season in GP2, or perhaps test seats with the Williams or Force India teams.
Van der Garde replied: "This news is so fresh. First I have to sit down with my management to see what is best for my career.
"Plan B is to be GP2 champion, as we have seen what it did for Pastor Maldonado. He was in GP2 four years before he was champion."
His manager Jan Paul ten Hoopen admitted that Tuesday's news has "narrowed the opportunities" for van der Garde in F1 for 2011.
"With Virgin we had a realistic option," he added. "We are still talking with two other teams, including Force India.
"But you can never rely on something in Formula One. It's a big casino," added ten Hoopen.
Share Or Save This Story
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Ex-F1 racer van der Garde announces retirement
Van der Garde joins United for Portimao, Monza WEC races
Team Nederland switches to Oreca for 2019/20 WEC
Otmar Szafnauer reveals failed Kimi Raikkonen bid involving "Angry Birds" founders
Esteban Ocon explains why he collided with Sergio Perez so often at Force India
Former Force India F1 boss Fernley dies aged 70
Man charged with burglarizing Greg Biffle's home after fatal plane crash, investigation ongoing
Connor Zilisch couldn’t say ‘no’ to a Cup ride at Hendrick Motorsports
Kyle Larson shares his favorite Kyle Busch memory
Kyle Larson's Knoxville Nationals win brings Cup momentum too
What an engineer with four decades of F1 experience would choose as the ideal engine rules
How much performance has each F1 team gained over 2026?
Switch off or ramp up? How the smartest F1 drivers managed the summer break
Could McLaren follow Red Bull’s path with its own F1 engine – and should it?
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.
Top Comments