HRT car ‘not up to F1 standard’ – Klien

HRT’s 2010 car is not up to the standard of the sport’s other teams, said Christian Klien after driving the F110 on Friday.

The team’s new reserve and test driver is quoted by motorline.cc as confirming that his contract is for the entire 2010 season.

Despite contesting 48 grands prix dating back to 2004 and spending three full years as a test driver with works squads BMW and Honda, he received his new super license mere minutes before the 90-minute morning session began at Barcelona.

“The team has brought me in so I can give feedback to the engineers and compare the car with BMW and Honda,” said the 27-year-old, who was half a second quicker than race regular Bruno Senna.

“The car is obviously not up to formula one-standard,” added the Austrian.  “It has much too little downforce and the details are not as good as with the other cars.”

He explained that the Dallara-built car is “very difficult” to drive, insisting the Cosworth “engine is not the main problem”.

© RIF|GMM