![\"Davide-Valsecchi-2\"](\"https:\/\/www.racinginfocus.com\/rif\/gallery\/f1-2013-rif-images\/f1-2013-drivers\/Davide-Valsecchi-2.jpg\")
That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, even though the seven time world champion reportedly turned down the chance.<\/p>\nMichael Schumacher was among no less than seven candidates to replace Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus for the last two races of 2013.<\/p>\n
That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, even though the seven time world champion reportedly turned down the chance.<\/p>\n
“Motor racing to me is always special, no question,” Schumacher admitted in a new interview with the German broadcaster RTL.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“Eventually you get a bit tired of it,” the 44-year-old German said.<\/p>\n
So Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt said Lotus also got in touch with Nico Hulkenberg, Rubens Barrichello, Kamui Kobayashi and Pastor Maldonado.<\/p>\n
Heikki Kovalainen, Caterham’s ‘Friday’ driver this year, ultimately got the job, because Lotus reserve driver Davide Valsecchi was adjudged to be too inexperienced.<\/p>\n
“It’s a huge blow for me,” Valsecchi admitted to Italian media in Austin.<\/p>\n
“I’m angry to have lost out to Kovalainen — he’s not a great champion, and his last results were five years ago.<\/p>\n
“Had they taken Hulkenberg, I would have understood,” he added.\u00a0 “Even Maldonado.\u00a0 But I am certain that if they had taken me, I would have been on the pace immediately.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, Finn Kovalainen was faster even than Lotus regular Grosjean in Austin on Friday — a feat described as “brilliant” by technical boss Nick Chester.<\/p>\n
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