Di Grassi not frustrated as Virgin struggles into F1

Lucas di Grassi’s crash on Thursday raised fears that Virgin had experienced another wing failure.

After the new British team suffered a front wing failure recently at Jerez, it was feared Brazilian rookie di Grassi’s crash at Barcelona was caused by a broken rear wing.

The Speedweek publication said technical director Nick Wirth studied video footage of the incident to ensure that a wing had not fallen off prior to the incident at turn 9.

But investigations showed that the VR-01, already delayed recently with a chronic hydraulic problem, had crashed because of “experimental control settings”.

It meant di Grassi did not return to the track on Thursday, but the 25-year-old insists he is not frustrated by Virgin’s teething problems.

“It’s not what I want, but it’s what I expected,” he is quoted as saying by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

“Frustration now would be out of place.  On the contrary, I have to motivate the guys in the team.

“If I was with an established team, I would have set myself a goal,” di Grassi explained.  “In my situation I have to grow with the team; to develop myself and the car at the same time.”

Virgin hopes the VR-01, faster only than the Lotus on Thursday, is repaired so that Timo Glock can begin testing as scheduled on Friday morning.

© RIF|GMM