Trulli out, Petrov In
Discussion
Just beat me to it.
Vitaly Petrov Joins Caterham F1 Team
Hingham, UK - 17 February 2012
Caterham F1 Team has today announced that Vitaly Petrov has joined the team as race driver, replacing Jarno Trulli with immediate effect. The Russian was at the Anglo-Malaysian team’s factory in Hingham on Friday 17th February for a seat fitting ahead of his first run with the team at the second pre-season test in Barcelona, 21st to 24th February.
Team Principal Tony Fernandes: “We are all delighted to welcome Vitaly into our team and are very excited about the role he will play in helping us take the next steps forward in 2012 and for many years to come. When we first met it was immediately clear that Vitaly understands and shares our vision for how we want our team to grow. As the first Russian to race in F1 he carries the hopes of a huge nation with ease and his talents, experience with one of our current competitors and insights on and off track will play a huge role in our development as we fight to join the established teams ahead.
“I also want to take this opportunity to thank Jarno for the absolutely pivotal role he played in the formation and progression of our team since he joined us in December 2009. Jarno knew that when he joined us it would be a very different environment to where he had been before, and when we gave him the package he wanted he absolutely shone. With that in mind it was not an easy decision to bring Vitaly in to replace Jarno, but it was one we made to ensure that we give fresh impetus across the whole team and with a realistic eye on the global economic market. Jarno has an incredible natural talent behind the wheel, and his winning record and longevity in the sport will bear testament to that talent in the Formula 1 annals forever, but now it is time to open a new chapter in our team’s story, and Vitaly is the right person to help us do that.
“We have reached agreement with Jarno to bring an end to our partnership with him, but he will always be part of our family. Now we want to integrate Vitaly as quickly as possible into the team, and we will do everything we can to welcome him in, give him a car he can use to showcase his skills, and keep up the rate of development that has seen us go from an empty factory with just four employees to a fully established Formula 1 team in just over two years.”
Vitaly Petrov: “This is a very exciting day for me. I would like to thank Tony, Kamarudin Meranun and SM Nasarudin for giving me the chance to join a team that made its F1 debut at the same time as me, and has grown from one of the new teams to a serious force for future honours. The passion and spirit that Tony and the whole team have to keep moving forwards is infectious, and I am honoured to be able to join them and play my part in helping the team mount a serious challenge to the teams ahead in 2012 and for many seasons to come.
“I have been training hard all winter and am ready to get back into the cockpit and go to work. From what I have seen already, our new car is another good step forward from 2011 and now I cannot wait to see how it feels when we get to Barcelona. I would also like to take this chance to thank all my fans and partners for their support and their patience.”
Jarno Trulli: “I want to take this chance to thank Tony, Kamarudin, SM Nasarudin, Riad, Mike and everyone in the team for the two seasons we had together. From zero we built up and established a solid F1 team. I'm really proud to have been part of it. I understand the decision the team has made and I want to wish to the whole team the very best of luck for the season ahead.”
Vitaly Petrov Joins Caterham F1 Team
Hingham, UK - 17 February 2012
Caterham F1 Team has today announced that Vitaly Petrov has joined the team as race driver, replacing Jarno Trulli with immediate effect. The Russian was at the Anglo-Malaysian team’s factory in Hingham on Friday 17th February for a seat fitting ahead of his first run with the team at the second pre-season test in Barcelona, 21st to 24th February.
Team Principal Tony Fernandes: “We are all delighted to welcome Vitaly into our team and are very excited about the role he will play in helping us take the next steps forward in 2012 and for many years to come. When we first met it was immediately clear that Vitaly understands and shares our vision for how we want our team to grow. As the first Russian to race in F1 he carries the hopes of a huge nation with ease and his talents, experience with one of our current competitors and insights on and off track will play a huge role in our development as we fight to join the established teams ahead.
“I also want to take this opportunity to thank Jarno for the absolutely pivotal role he played in the formation and progression of our team since he joined us in December 2009. Jarno knew that when he joined us it would be a very different environment to where he had been before, and when we gave him the package he wanted he absolutely shone. With that in mind it was not an easy decision to bring Vitaly in to replace Jarno, but it was one we made to ensure that we give fresh impetus across the whole team and with a realistic eye on the global economic market. Jarno has an incredible natural talent behind the wheel, and his winning record and longevity in the sport will bear testament to that talent in the Formula 1 annals forever, but now it is time to open a new chapter in our team’s story, and Vitaly is the right person to help us do that.
“We have reached agreement with Jarno to bring an end to our partnership with him, but he will always be part of our family. Now we want to integrate Vitaly as quickly as possible into the team, and we will do everything we can to welcome him in, give him a car he can use to showcase his skills, and keep up the rate of development that has seen us go from an empty factory with just four employees to a fully established Formula 1 team in just over two years.”
Vitaly Petrov: “This is a very exciting day for me. I would like to thank Tony, Kamarudin Meranun and SM Nasarudin for giving me the chance to join a team that made its F1 debut at the same time as me, and has grown from one of the new teams to a serious force for future honours. The passion and spirit that Tony and the whole team have to keep moving forwards is infectious, and I am honoured to be able to join them and play my part in helping the team mount a serious challenge to the teams ahead in 2012 and for many seasons to come.
“I have been training hard all winter and am ready to get back into the cockpit and go to work. From what I have seen already, our new car is another good step forward from 2011 and now I cannot wait to see how it feels when we get to Barcelona. I would also like to take this chance to thank all my fans and partners for their support and their patience.”
Jarno Trulli: “I want to take this chance to thank Tony, Kamarudin, SM Nasarudin, Riad, Mike and everyone in the team for the two seasons we had together. From zero we built up and established a solid F1 team. I'm really proud to have been part of it. I understand the decision the team has made and I want to wish to the whole team the very best of luck for the season ahead.”
Trulli got a nice payoff - he's happy with what he's got.
From what I understand this has been on the cards since last year. CaterhamF1 needed a pay to drive driver. Initially that was going to be Riccardio with Red Bull money (or technology) that didn't happen for whatever reason (Red Bull didn't think it was a good career move). So CaterhamF1 had been on the look out for someone with money. Step forward the russian !
CaterhamF1 are desperate for funding. Tony F is ploughing his money into QPR and not Caterham at the moment.
AlexRWD said:
Agree it was time for Trulli to move on.
Petrov will also have to really prove himself now - he has shown some intermittent but inconsistent skill.
If he doesn't perform at Caterham, hopefully no other team will be foolish enough to take him and his money.
I disagree, Petrov does ok most of the time and he's stopped crashing as much. He'll make a fine pay driver until his money runs out.Petrov will also have to really prove himself now - he has shown some intermittent but inconsistent skill.
If he doesn't perform at Caterham, hopefully no other team will be foolish enough to take him and his money.
Agree with Trulli being past his best along time ago.
But he wouldn't let go of the F1 lifestyle. I couldn't understand why he would be happy to sit in an uncompetitive car with no hope of even having an interesting/fun race. Apparently the lure of F1 is hard to give up.
I know he has been looking at Indy and possibly some sportscar drives. Makes sense for him to go drive for Ferrari in the GT's as per Alesi, Fisichella
But he wouldn't let go of the F1 lifestyle. I couldn't understand why he would be happy to sit in an uncompetitive car with no hope of even having an interesting/fun race. Apparently the lure of F1 is hard to give up.
I know he has been looking at Indy and possibly some sportscar drives. Makes sense for him to go drive for Ferrari in the GT's as per Alesi, Fisichella
Edited by woof on Friday 17th February 12:15
Flying Toilet said:
You could tell it was on the cards when Caterham tweeted that they hoped the power steering was acceptable for Jarno.... 
Good move by Caterham, Jarno was just a seat filler and didn't offer the experience or advice other senior drivers could provide.
You mean he was taking a wage cheque of $4million (heikki is only on $3million)Good move by Caterham, Jarno was just a seat filler and didn't offer the experience or advice other senior drivers could provide.
and Pretrov is bringing $10million with him (allegedly)
Mind you - I'm sure they have had to pay Trulli off. Part of the Pretrov deal, some dodgy Russian blokes will meet him in a forest somewhere with a large briefcase
TF finally decided his decision to attempt to be a 'proper' midfield team with two paid drivers was making him look silly as he was miles off the other midfield teams who were happily accepting paying drivers. Good move I say, hopefully the much needed cash injection will show in some decent results!
Rufus said:
TF finally decided his decision to attempt to be a 'proper' midfield team with two paid drivers was making him look silly as he was miles off the other midfield teams who were happily accepting paying drivers. Good move I say, hopefully the much needed cash injection will show in some decent results!
They must have put him on a 3 year contract or with few exit clauses too.
Didn't Petrov get a podium in the first race last year? He's better than given credit for I reckon. Renault had no budget and couldn't develop the car so results just got worse and worse.
Glad Trulli has gone, how anyone can feel sorry for any of these multi-millionaire drivers for losing a race seats I don't know.
Glad Trulli has gone, how anyone can feel sorry for any of these multi-millionaire drivers for losing a race seats I don't know.
LayZ said:
Glad Trulli has gone, how anyone can feel sorry for any of these multi-millionaire drivers for losing a race seats I don't know.
What's his financial position got to do with it?
I'm sorry to see someone ousted from the top level of a sport they're passionate about, but understand the team's pov. Heikki's doing well and the extra Petrov ££ will aid development more than Trulli's experience
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