Being a small team in Formula One is no easy task…for that matter, being a big team in Formula 1 is no easy task as well. HRT announced today that they would be skipping the upcoming Mugello test in favor of moving to their new HQ in Spain. The Spanish teams said:
“After some careful assessment, HRT Formula 1 Team has decided not to take part in the upcoming Formula 1 tests celebrated in Mugello, Italy, next week (1st-3rd May).”
With the first four overseas Grands Prix completed, the cars return to Europe for the first time since they left for the inaugural event and the team is now completely focused on relocating to its new headquarters at the Caja Mágica, in Madrid. The importance of this relocation, added to the fact that the upgrade package for the F112 is programmed for the Spanish Grand Prix (11th-13th May), means that the team prefers to focus its efforts and resources on the new headquarters, work on the car and properly preparing for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Luis Pérez-Sala, Team Principal:
“The start to the season was a little bit rushed for us and, since the cars were set up for the first time, we have been working on them at the Grands Prix. The team and the material have just got back from Bahrain after leaving for Australia in early March. And they return, for the first time, to the team’s new headquarters at the Caja Mágica in Madrid. This move is very important for us and by not going to Mugello we can work thoroughly on the car to prepare for the Spanish Grand Prix. We won’t have the new upgrade package until then so we’ve preferred to focus on what can contribute more to us, which is teamwork at the headquarters. And there is a lot to do”.
It’s expensive to race in F1 and the team has come a long way since the first race of 2012 in Australia where they failed to the qualify for the race with a dual finish last week in Bahrain. Sure, resources are tight and the team have some moving to do and money to be judicious with and as they were not competing for podiums or race victories in the first four races, they were in effect a test in and of themselves.
Onward to Spain and the new upgrades for HRT.
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