Van der Garde thinks that Caterham can regain the upper hand over Marussia
After a difficult start to the season for the entire Caterham team, Giedo Van der Garde, a newcomer to the discipline, remains confident that the Malaysian team can gain the upper hand over Marussia, its closest rival.
Caterham’s season start is far from the team’s expectations. The team aimed to score points on a few occasions, but instead, they find themselves struggling to beat Marussia and an impressive Jules Bianchi. However, Giedo Van der Garde, a newcomer to the Malaysian team, remains confident, especially after the Sepang race: « The car was difficult to drive, particularly regarding tire wear and due to damage to my diffuser [following contact with Chilton’s Marussia, editor’s note]. But I still managed to stay ahead of Max Chilton. It remains a good experience. We know where we stand at the moment. We will have some updates in Barcelona. »
In the meantime, the next two Grand Prix, in China and Bahrain, may still be a bit complicated for Caterham and its drivers, as confirmed by the Dutch driver: « The next two races will not be easy, but we can make a step forward. Marussia has a slight advantage, but I hope we can beat them. »
From a more personal point of view, Van der Garde is quite happy with his progress and experience in his early days in Formula 1: « The team gives me time to learn, step by step, all the procedures, the way to drive with the tires, and it’s a good thing for me. It’s very different from GP2, the philosophy is different. »
