15/05/2011
NEWS STORY
Mat Coch writes:
Reports during the week that Jerome D'Ambrioso was set to lose his seat with Virgin Racing are wide of the mark, according to team boss John Booth. "Since the beginning of the season Jerome has done a fantastic job," said Booth, "if his contract is respected, there is no reason to replace him."
During the week, Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad carried comments from Renault team boss Eric Boullier, who also acts as the Belgian driver's manager, suggesting D'Ambrosio could lose his seat because sponsors hadn't met their obligations. "I recently spoke with the people at Virgin and they are starting to get impatient," Boullier admitted. "They have clearly told me that if there is no change in the situation they will consider replacing Jerome.
"People need to understand that when you make a commitment, you must keep your word. Everything is stuck.
"Some people make a real science out of making excuses," he continued. "There are holidays, the banks are closed, you name it. But there comes a time when the nonsense must stop."
Since then however, Boullier has backtracked from his original comments. "I didn't want to drop a bomb, I just wanted to press the alarm," he claims. "Jerome's place at Virgin is guaranteed until the end of the season."
So far this season the Virgin team has struggled with an uncompetitive car, the team's best result to date being D'Ambrosio's fourteenth place finish in the season opening Australian Grand Prix.