Jerome d'Ambrosio deserves F1 chance, says Lotus boss Eric Boullier
Jerome d'Ambrosio deserves to be back on the Formula 1 grid full-time in 2013, reckons Lotus team boss Eric Boullier
The Belgian, who became Lotus's reserve this season after losing his Virgin (now Marussia) seat to Charles Pic, stood in for the banned Romain Grosjean at Monza and finished 13th from 16th on the grid despite losing KERS early on.
Although Lotus is set to keep Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean in its race seats for 2013, Boullier believes rivals would be foolish not to consider d'Ambrosio.
"I think if any team had a doubt about him they will understand now that he is fast and can be very serious and professional and deserves his place in Formula 1," Boullier told AUTOSPORT.
He added: "He has been good. Any team principal should look at his pace.
"In the second half of the race he was clearly matching the pace of all the cars in front of him.
"He didn't put a foot wrong and he was professional and it was a very impressive weekend."
The Monza outing was d'Ambrosio's first race since the end of 2012. He had previously tested the Lotus E20 at Mugello.
Grosjean will return to the second Lotus race seat in Singapore this weekend.
Previous article
BBC Formula 1 host Jake Humphrey to switch to BT football coverage from 2013
Next article
Mercedes' major upgrades get Singapore Grand Prix green light
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Teams | Team Lotus , Lotus F1 Team |
| Author | Edd Straw |
Starting Grid for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
F1 Fast Facts: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
How “overwhelming” McLaren move has given Ricciardo a new verve
Daniel Ricciardo has found a new lease of life at McLaren – a move that’s been years in the making, as he explains to STUART CODLING…
The German legend who raced and beat Nuvolari
Ninety years ago, Rudolf Caracciola became the first non-Italian to win the epic Mille Miglia. We look at how he stacks up to the most famous pre-war ace Tazio Nuvolari, one of the drivers he beat on that day in 1931
How 2021's midfielders have taken lessons from F1's top teams
Formula 1’s latest Imola adventure turned into an expensive trip for many teams due to several crashes throughout the weekend. While balancing the books is an added factor in 2021 with the cost cap, a few midfield teams have cashed in early on development investments
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Driver Ratings
A frantic wet race at Imola produced plenty of excitement and drama as drivers scrabbled for grip. Amid the hatful of mistakes and incidents that ensued, who kept their noses cleanest?
How the Emilia Romagna GP result hinged on three crucial saves
Rain before the start of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix promised to spice up the action, and the race certainly delivered on that. Max Verstappen got the best launch to win from Lewis Hamilton, but both got away with mistakes that could have had serious consequences
The back-bedroom world-beater that began a new F1 era
The first in a line of world beaters was designed in a back bedroom and then constructed in a shed. STUART CODLING recalls the Tyrrell 001
The clues Hamilton’s F1 contract afterthought gives to his future
The Formula 1 world reacted with surprise when it learned Lewis Hamilton’s long-awaited new Mercedes deal guarantees his presence on the grid only until the end of 2021. Both parties claimed publicly they were happy with the arrangement but, asks MARK GALLAGHER, is there more to it than that?
How a harshly ejected Red Bull star has been hooked by racing again
Driver-turned-DJ Jaime Alguersuari lost his love for motorsport when he was booted out of Formula 1 just as he was starting to polish his rough edges. Having drifted from category to category then turned his back on racing altogether in 2015, he’s come full circle and is planning a return in karts for fun
