Perez-Sala: Hitting the reset button at HRT

Former grand prix driver Luis Perez-Sala has experienced something brand new at Jerez in Spain this week - walking into the Formula 1 paddock as a team principal.

After taking over from Colin Kolles as boss of HRT over the winter, his first appearance in his new role came after a hectic few months getting to grips with the infrastructure, budgets and car development plans for the Spanish-owned team.

As Perez-Sala got used to his new surroundings in the HRT garage, AUTOSPORT spoke exclusively to the veteran of 26 grands prix to find out how the outfit is progressing, what the status of the new car is, and why he thinks 2012 is effectively a totally new beginning for the outfit.

Q: You took over as team principal of HRT late last year. How has the winter period and build-up to the season been?

Luis Perez-Sala: A lot of things have been happening. It has been tough, since 90 per cent of the team has changed. Then, to move the race team from Germany to Valencia and find new people is not going to be easy for this year. We are effectively the only new team in 2012.

Q: So is that how it feels? Like a totally new team?

LPS: Yes. It is like a whole new team but without enough time to build it. And with many decisions already done before I started.

Perez-Sala (l) took over from Kolles as HRT boss in late 2011 © sutton-images.com

Q: What has been your focus then? Have you had to concentrate more on the budget, the infrastructure, or the car?

LPS: It was about trying to understand the team, to know the people of the team - the designers, the aerodynamicists, and the suppliers. You need more time to understand at the beginning before you can start work, I would say.

Q: The old HRT under Colin Kolles was operated by a lot of his own staff. Are those people transferring to your operation, or do you have to recruit a lot of new staff?

LPS: We have had to recruit quite a lot. The staff from Colin were his own staff and now we have to be able to run our own team. We have to find new people, and most of them for the race team - not designers or aerodynamicists as we are quite stable on that front.

Q: Colin set up a design office in Munich. Is that going to carry on?

LPS: In the future we would like to have most of these things in our facility. That is the plan, but I don't know when we will be able to do that. This year's car will be designed in Munich, where the aerodynamic office is as well. We are also going to build the first car in Munich.

Q: In terms of the factory location, there have been rumours about a move to Madrid, and also of various places in Valencia. What can you tell us about the plan?

LPS: The plan, as of now, is that we are in Valencia. But this is only a provisional location. We have to see if we sign a deal for Madrid or not. Nothing is done yet. Maybe tomorrow things will be different, but it is hard to say what happens before you sign anything. I hope, in the short-term, that we can move to Madrid.

Q: There has been talk that you could move to one of the America's Cup buildings in Valencia. Is that still a possibility

Perez-Sala started 26 grands prix for Minardi in 1988-89... © LAT

LPS: Our current base is a standard facility [in a central Valencia location]. It is enough for what we have now, but we will have to move. The America's Cup idea does not seem close. It is more likely that we go to Madrid.

Q: So when do you hope that will happen?

LPS: As soon as we sign, we will move there. But it depends when we sign. If we sign now, then the plan will be to move [the race team] after the first five races of the season.

Q: In terms of the technical leadership and designing the car, who is doing that? Are you looking at signing someone?

LPS: We have to start thinking about that. But what we have for now we are comfortable with for the moment. The technical director was Geoff Willis until August/September last year, and he was replaced by Jacky Eeckelaert. Now, his contract finished with us at the end of January, but the 2012 car is already done.

We now just have to pass the last crash test tomorrow [February 8]. That is the last step, and if we achieve that, we will be without problems and ready to run the new car.

Q: So the car is still on schedule to make the next test?

LPS: If we pass the crash test [tomorrow], I would say yes. If not, then we will not be there [at the Barcelona test] at the beginning because we cannot test if we have not passed.

Q: Even with the difficult situation you have had, the fact you are able to run before the first race is better than the team achieved for the last two seasons?

LPS: Yes, but I am not happy to be in a better position now. I would prefer to be in a better position at the end of the season rather than the beginning.

...and brought in another Spaniard, Pedro de la Rosa, as his first move © LAT

Q: In terms of the budget and sponsorship, is the situation okay?

LPS: Yes, this year it is under control. Absolutely. We are quite confident on that.

Q: And Thesan capital [the team owner] is committed?

LPS: Yes. But it is like always. If they see things are going well, then we can expect some support from the sponsors and investors. I am quite happy with that.

Q: One of the positives is that you have two drivers you can rely on too...

LPS: I am quite happy with both drivers. I know that Pedro [de la Rosa] can help us a lot, to build the team in the right way. And Narain [Karthikeyan] knows this team a bit. From what I saw last year, even in India when I followed him, he is a fast driver. And quite reliable I would say. Maybe he needs to be a bit more consistent, but we can work on that.

Q: So, how are you finding the challenge of being team boss?

LPS: It is a thing that seems strange for me. I was not expecting to do this. But in the end they [Thesan capital] decided to put me here and I accepted to try this challenge. I know it is going to be very difficult and very tough, but I will listen and look and then make decisions, but not be soft. Then we will see. It is a big challenge, I can tell you!