"If our car can do it, it's because we did something to allow our car to do it," Lotus boss says
Monday 13 May 2013 14:21, UK
Unsurprisingly perhaps, after watching his driver Kimi Raikkonen finish second in the Spanish Grand Prix by making one pit stop fewer than his rivals, Lotus Team Principal Eric Boullier has played down the furore over tyre wear in Barcelona.
McLaren counterpart Martin Whitmarsh admitted that the situation can be "frustrating" sometimes but reckoned that Pirelli - who aim to induce two or three stops per race - get the balance right more often than not. "Pirelli have responded to add to the spectacle and they don't always get it right. I think we've got to credit Pirelli, because lots of races have been enhanced by the tyre challenge and some which have probably been degraded by the tyre challenge," he said. "For the racing drivers and those of us on the pitwall, it's a bit frustrating." Whitmarsh, whose drivers Jenson Button and Sergio Perez finished eighth and ninth in the race, said the difference between the two on Sunday was the former World Champion's ability to manage his tyres. "Jenson drove a brilliant race. You have to put the tyres on and the tippy-toe for the first three or four laps. But for any racing driver - particularly young chargers - to go out and do that, to almost cruise around Turn 3 which is supposed to be the most exciting corner, it's not much fun is it? It's tough," he said. "When you put new rubber on to go racing and you've stopped before someone else, you want to go out there and put three quick laps in and get in front of the guy and jump him at the stop. "If you do that - which you can - you'll just have terminal degradation five laps later." Whitmarsh added: "I think (Pirelli) know we're right on the cusp of being too delicate. Some people will say it's part of the show, I don't want to criticise but I think we've just got to be a bit careful. I think there'll be some others who feel slightly more miffed about the tyres than we do. "(Perez) had a bit of a masterclass from Jenson about how to drive these delicate tyres."
