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| © Caterham |
Jarno Trulli has revealed that he was prepared for the axe from the Caterham team pointing out that the absence of an Italian driver in Formula 1 was inevitable.
Vitaly Petrov replaced the 37-year-old veteran at the Anglo-Malaysian outfit ending Trulli’s F1 career and ensuring that there were no Italian drivers this season for the first time since 1969.
Trulli, who said that he would pursue racing in other forms of motorsport, indicated towards the lack of support to help young drivers come up the ranks citing that the lack of Italian drivers in F1 now as “normal”.
The former Toyota driver added that it was a situation “that people have not woken up to” saying that there are talents “but if nobody supports them there's no hope."
The only Italian influence that remains on the 2012 grid is Ferrari, which is fielding Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Brazilian Felipe Massa.
“I am very sad that, after so many years there will not be an Italian driver in the Formula 1 world championship field,” said team principal Stefano Domenicali.
“I say this on the sporting front and on a personal level when it comes to Jarno, who only on a few occasions has had a car capable of showing off his talents,” he added. “So here, I wish him all the best for the future, both in racing and away from the track.”