Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Formula 1 came easier than GP2 for Rodolfo Gonzalez

Rodolfo Gonzalez claims to be better suited to grand prix machinery than GP2 cars after his second taste of Formula 1 with Team Lotus today

The Venezuelan, who has raced in GP2 since making his debut in the Asia Series in 2008, has started 55 races in the second-tier category and scored only four points.

But after enjoying his day of testing with Lotus, he insists that he is far more comfortable in F1 machinery after setting the tenth fastest time of the day, four seconds off the pace, with a time set on super soft rubber in the final hour of the day.

This underlines his desire to be with a leading team if he does return to GP2 in 2012. Among the outfits he is talking to are the Team Lotus-owned AirAsia outfit, who he regards as a top team.

"My pace was pretty okay," he told AUTOSPORT. "F1 came easier to me than GP2. I go used to it quicker, I learned it quicker and I was able to adapt my driving style throughout the day.

"I'd love to do F1 next year, but I don't think that's going to happen. I'd like to do GP2 again, but I don't want to make up the numbers.

"If I cannot be with a top three team, then there's no point doing it because in GP2 you need to have a strong team with a very strong structure and the whole package together.

Gonzalez also tested for Lotus in Abu Dhabi in 2010, but admitted that he was much happier with his performance this year.

"It was much better than last year," he said. "Obviously, I was a bit more familiar with all of the controls, so as soon as I left the pit-lane, I could concentrate on driving.

"I hadn't driven anything in a month-and-a-half, I didn't do any simulator time and I didn't even walk the track yesterday. I was surprised that within a couple of runs I was already getting to be quite quick. I was happy."

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Jean-Eric Vergne downplays setting the quickest time in Abu Dhabi test
Next article Austin Grand Prix plunged into doubt after track construction is stopped in dispute over race contract

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe