Breaking news
Formula 1
Losing Lotus chance 'a huge blow' - Valsecchi
Lotus had a list of experience drivers whom they wanted to sub for Raikkonen, but their reserve driver was considered to be "too inexperienced".
GMM
Edited: Nov 16, 2013, 5:24 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Nov.16 (GMM) Michael Schumacher was among no less than seven candidates to replace Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus for the last two races of 2013.
That is the claim of Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, even though the seven time world champion reportedly turned down the chance.
"Motor racing to me is always special, no question," Schumacher admitted in a new interview with the German broadcaster RTL.
"On the other hand, I was in Formula One for 20 years, and with all the other categories as well, I was active for more or less 40 years.
"Eventually you get a bit tired of it," the 44-year-old German said.
Heikki Kovalainen, Lotus F1 Team
Photo by: XPB Images
So Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt said Lotus also got in touch with Nico Hulkenberg, Rubens Barrichello, Kamui Kobayashi and Pastor Maldonado.
Heikki Kovalainen, Caterham's 'Friday' driver this year, ultimately got the job, because Lotus reserve driver Davide Valsecchi was adjudged to be too inexperienced.
"It's a huge blow for me," Valsecchi admitted to Italian media in Austin.
"I'm angry to have lost out to Kovalainen -- he's not a great champion, and his last results were five years ago.
"Had they taken Hulkenberg, I would have understood," he added. "Even Maldonado. But I am certain that if they had taken me, I would have been on the pace immediately."
Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez, however, defended the decision on the basis that the team is locked in a lucrative struggle for prize money millions, against the grandee might of Ferrari and Mercedes.
"Given his lack of experience, it would have been unfair of us to impose such a great responsibility on Davide," he said, referring to 2012 GP2 champion Valsecchi.
"Were it not for that (the constructors' standings battle), he would have been our first choice, just like d'Ambrosio was last year (when Romain Grosjean was banned)," added Lopez.
Ultimately, Finn Kovalainen was faster even than Lotus regular Grosjean in Austin on Friday -- a feat described as "brilliant" by technical boss Nick Chester.
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 COTA raises money for Austin flooding victims during US GP
Next article Red Bulls maintain control in Austin
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
GMM
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Formula 1
Formula 1 Apr 13, 2015
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Apr 13, 2015
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Pirelli chief calls for radical F1 overhaul
Formula 1
Formula 1 Apr 5, 2015
Pirelli chief calls for radical F1 overhaul
More from
Michael Schumacher
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brazilian GP
23 d
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
Nike could return to Formula 1 for first time since Michael Schumacher era
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
1 mo
Nike could return to Formula 1 for first time since Michael Schumacher era
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
2 mo
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
More from
Ferrari
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
3 d
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Latest news
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
MotoGP
Qatar GP
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
Why the anticlimactic WEC title showdown was the worst-case scenario
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
1 h
Why the anticlimactic WEC title showdown was the worst-case scenario
How Istanbul is revamping its F1 circuit to clinch long-term future
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Turkish GP
2 h
How Istanbul is revamping its F1 circuit to clinch long-term future
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 19 h
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
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