Bruno Senna guaranteed in Renault seat for Spa and Monza only
Bruno Senna says his future with Renault is only guaranteed for the next two races, while the team sorts out legal issues relating to it dropping Nick Heidfeld on the eve of the Belgian Grand Prix
With the dispute between Heidfeld and Renault having gone to court, it is understood that the issue has only been resolved temporarily - with uncertainty remaining about the contractual situation of driver and team from the Singapore GP.
Renault had planned to release a statement on Thursday morning explaining its plans for the rest of 2011, but that did not happen.
However, speaking in the official FIA press conference in Belgium on Thursday, Senna revealed that he was only guaranteed for the next two events - although he hoped to be in the car for the rest of the season.
"Right now I am confirmed to do this race and the next race, but there are some legal issues to be resolved," he said. "I cannot confirm if I am doing rest of the year or not. The intention is I am going to do it, but it still cannot be confirmed."
With his participation in the Belgian GP having only been confirmed on Wednesday, Senna admitted that he faced an uphill battle to get up to speed this weekend - and reckoned that the best he could hope for was to get close to team-mate Vitaly Petrov.
"It is going to be a big challenge to come back into the middle of the season, a bit later than the middle of the season, to go racing," said Senna, who drove in Friday practice in Hungary.
"But I have been participating in all the meetings with the engineers, and am up-to-date with all that is going on at team. Hungary was useful to know how the car could go, but it will be an uphill battle to get on the form of these guys here [other drivers in the press conference] who have been racing for 11 races now. But I am really looking forward to it, hoping to progress fast and repay the faith the team has given me.
"Friday was very tough in Hungary, it was really difficult. I know I have to learn how to deal with the tyres from the first set to qualifying, and learn how to deal with tyres in the race. All this experience I don't have, so it will be the first time. If I can be anywhere near Petrov, that will be a good reference."
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Russell: Mercedes locked in F1 "battle of fine margins"
Why F1 2026 worst case fears could be key to new rules success
Hamilton: Ferrari F1 switch doesn't need "vindicating"
What could have been: When Villeneuve’s shock return thwarted an F1 rookie
Friday favourite: Renault's original F1 title-winner that began the Alonso era
Why Renault's survivor wasn't part of Alpine's plans
How real-time scrutineering ensures fair and consistent competition in motorsport
How MotoGP brakes work: Secrets of stopping a 220mph bike
Hyundai enacts contingency plan after WRC Kenya fuel issue
Vanwall working on 2025 WEC comeback with heavily-revised Hypercar
Why F1 2026 worst case fears could be key to new rules success
How the F1 driver market situation sits for each team with 2025 openings
What's been going wrong for Leclerc in F1's tiny margins qualifying game
What the Chinese GP's highlights reveal about its first F1 race for five years
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments