MAY 12, 2015

Jorda says McLaren impatient with Honda

Carmen Jorda, the female development driver for Lotus, says she has heard whispers of discord at McLaren-Honda.

Carmen Jorda, the female development driver for Lotus, says she has heard whispers of discord at McLaren-Honda.

Spaniard and former GP3 driver Jorda, 26, is attending all the grands prix this year with the Enstone team.

Regarding McLaren-Honda's run of disappointing form at the beginning of the new works alliance, she revealed: "A couple of races ago I was talking to one of the (McLaren) engineers and they told me they were impatient with the Japanese.

"They said the Japanese want to try everything two or three times, but the McLaren engineers tell them they know it will not work and it's better to go another way," Jorda said on Spanish radio Cadena Ser.

"But the Japanese continue with their ideas. That's what is making them lose so much time," she claimed.

Meanwhile, former long-time McLaren driver David Coulthard admitted he is also worried about the famous British team, as pulling out of a "rut" is difficult in formula one.

"As McLaren are," he told the Telegraph, "you try to attract a new major corporate sponsor at a rate which you are used to historically, but no one wants to be associated with a company which is losing so badly.

"The lack of television exposure makes it even worse. And then, if you are not careful, you do not have the finances to move the team forward," added Coulthard.

(GMM)