FEBRUARY 5, 2012

Lotus reserve driver: Jerome D'Ambrosio Q&A

26-year-old Jerome D'Ambrosio joined Lotus as the the team's third driver for 2012, after racing for Virgin Racing last season.

26-year-old Jerome D'Ambrosio joined Lotus as the the team's third driver for 2012, after racing for Virgin Racing last season.

Wouldn't you rather be racing this year?

Of course, I would love to be racing, but racing with a top team. Being associated with Lotus F1 Team should be more beneficial than racing with a team further down the order. This opportunity is one I couldn't afford to miss. My desire to get back in a race seat in the future is motivating me to do the best job possible in my new position.

What do you think of Enstone?

I have known the team for a number of years and I am familiar with Enstone. It's a great facility and another world in size and amount of people; it's bigger and has so much potential and will give me a lot of opportunities to learn and develop as a race driver.

There's a new 'Driver in the Loop' simulator being built - will you be using this?

The new simulator will make up a big part of my contribution to the team during the season and it will also keep me sharp; I'm really looking forward to it and can't wait to start working with it. I can contribute highly to the team in this area. It's going to be a really intense programme once we're operational in that area - it's not just one session a week, it's full on. It's a really good tool for pushing development of the car and of myself as a driver so I am looking forward to doing a good job here.

As a driver who contested last season's championship what can you bring to the team?

I had a great season in Formula 1 and it was a fantastic opportunity, but now I'm looking to develop. I can bring a lot more to the team with my race experience than someone who doesn't have any recent race knowledge. When you're first in Formula 1, everything is so new and so big. It's difficult to know where your focus should be, and how you should work, but this improves as your experience comes together. I know the tyres, I know the different compounds, I have experience of the circuits and car set-up so I can contribute to the discussions with engineers and race drivers. I am very motivated to help the two race drivers and the team in any way I can, and of course I am always ready to get into the car if the opportunity ever arises. Having contested the 2011 season I'm race fit and raring to go.