F1 » Friday press conference – Australian GP - Pt.1
15 March 2013
We got some good mileage on the car today but at the end we had some minor issues. We had a gearbox issue and a problem with the bib. So it's not a big drama.
Q:
On both cars, gearbox issues?
Toto Wolff:
No, on one car.
Q:
And what happened to Lewis, driver-error?
Toto Wolff:
No, we had a slight problem on the bib, not a driver error, it caused some understeer and he went off.
Q:
Off-track it's been quite a busy winter at the team, changes to the management structure. Explain to us now who's in place and who does what and who has responsibility for what.
Toto Wolff:
It's pretty clear now isn't it? We tried to keep you busy over the winter! The structure's actually pretty simple. Niki [Lauda] has been the chairman of the board since a couple of months in a non-operational function. And I have been recruited, basically, to step in for Norbert [Haug] as the motorsports director, and equally in an executive function in Brackley for MGP. So I'm having two heads on, actually.
Q:
And beneath you Ross [Brawn], as team principal, still has the same responsibilities as before?
Toto Wolff:
He's not beneath me, it's a different position and he's team principal, he stays the team principal and he's responsible for the racing. It didn't change to last year.
Q:
Eric, Lotus, how do you fare from today's two practice sessions? How pleased or otherwise are you with your performance?
Eric Boullier:
I'm pleased because obviously we had to fulfill our testing schedule for today, so no issue and we could go through everything we wanted to test and obviously understand. Performance is not so bad, I have to say, so happy and pleased with where we are. Obviously there's still a lot to learn from tyres and obviously the rest of the weekend, maybe the wet forecast is obviously another challenge coming.
Q:
Talking of challenges, if we have a development race this season, how well-equipped are Lotus? Do you have the budget you think you need to win a development race?
Eric Boullier:
Definitely. We have the budget in place. We have already anticipated the split from the resources we have to put on the 2013 car and obviously the 2014 challenge, so now everything is in place.
Transcript courtesy FIA
Tagged as:
FIA , Mclaren , Mercedes , Martin Whitmarsh , press conference , Pirelli , Melbourne , Australia , Lotus , Eric Boullier , Paul Hembery , Renault Sport F1 , toto wolff , Jean-Michel Jalinier
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