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| © Team Lotus |
Jarno Trulli slammed drivers who are believed to have stepped in Formula 1 because of financial reasons rather than their talent.
The Caterham driver pointed out to small teams who “need to count the beans” to survive in the sport forcing them to “put the seat up for rent." Trulli labelled such moves as an economic decision but said it was not worth it.
The Italian driver illustrated the plight of the Renault team last year after it was severely handicapped when Robert Kubica was ruled for the season following a rally crash.
“As soon as Robert was out, they were finished,” Trulli told La Repubblica. “Vitaly Petrov wasn't able to lead the team and the car, and Bruno Senna has demonstrated to be not good enough.
“Nick Heidfeld, with his experience, despite having done only half a season was able to score almost as many points as Petrov.
"So now they're trying to fix the situation by resorting to Kimi Raikkonen, who is no rookie, and Romain Grosjean, who has (come up) through the ranks."
The 37-year-old further questioned the commitment of the pay drivers.
"It's not a rule, but it's true that the ones that pay are less used to suffer. They're less determined,” he said. “When you go through the ranks, often as a young boy, many times you find yourself in the conditions of being forced to win. Either you get the result or you don't have a second chance.
"I have precise memories about it,” Trulli went on to explain. “I was a kid, I was in karting; my father came to me with the most serious expression I've ever seen him, and said: 'Jarno, this is the last chance. We have a chassis, four wheels and an engine, we go to this race but we can't go beyond that.'
“The only thing I knew was that I would have won in any condition. My career only went on thanks to that victory."