F1: Raikkonen Illness Hands Valsecchi His Chance

Lotus reserve Davide Valsecchi stepped in for an under-the-weather Kimi Raikkonen on Saturday in Barcelona...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted March 02, 2013 Barcelona (ESP)

Lotus reserve driver Davide Valsecchi drove 16 laps for Lotus on Saturday in Barcelona. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Lotus reserve driver Davide Valsecchi had an expected chance to drive the E21 in Barcelona Saturday after Kimi Raikkonen was sidelined by a stomach problem.

The GP2 champion drove 16 laps in the morning before Romain Grosjean took over later on after being called back from Paris, having ended his scheduled testing on Friday.

Valsecchi, who has also tested for HRT and Team Lotus (Caterham) in the past, drove the 2012 car at the Abu Dhabi test last year. However, he was not expected to get a chance in the E21 any time soon.

“Obviously, our day was rather compromised because of Kimi being ill,” said trackside operations director Alan Permane. “We changed the car for Davide to gain valuable experience in the morning, then changed it over lunchtime to Romain’s settings. Despite the disrupted running, we still completed a Grand Prix distance worth of laps and were able to put valuable miles on our latest rear wing concept, as well as evaluating a new front wing.

“Both look to be a step in the right direction, so it’s likely we’ll use them in Australia. Davide did a great job at short notice and we know we can rely on him if he’s called upon again. If Kimi is well enough tomorrow, we will run him in the car. Otherwise, it will be Romain in action once more.”

“This morning was quite a rush to get everything ready as the call only came late,” said Valsecchi. “But the team were fantastic getting the car prepared for me. I only completed short runs today, so I have a limited impression of the E21; however, it’s clear that it’s a very good racing car. For me to be able to get immediately on the pace means that the car is certainly fast and competitive. It was a fantastic opportunity; I sat in the seat of a former World Champion, so I knew that I’d be fast, for sure.”

“I certainly didn’t expect to be in the E21 again today, so it was an interruption to a day off, but as interruptions go, it was a pretty good one,” joked Grosjean. “The weather was definitely an improvement from what I’ve experienced so far, and I was able to assess the new rear front wings, both of which feel improved over the initial versions.

“We ran with high fuel today, so it wasn’t about lap times in the afternoon, but it’s all valuable data we’re getting for the car. I hope that Kimi is feeling better for tomorrow, but I don’t mind driving again if I have to.”

Adam Cooper notched up his 28th season as a racing journalist in 2012. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.

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