Vergne wants to bounce back with arrival in Europe

Jean-Eric Vergne took advantage of the three weeks without a Formula 1 Grand Prix that just passed to rest, finally a little because the Toro Rosso driver also took the opportunity to celebrate his birthday, his 23rd, in the company of some members of the Toro Rosso team during a kart race organized on his parents’ track.

The Frenchman has also been diligent in fine-tuning his preparation, particularly by cycling and spending time in the simulator to prepare for the European season. When asked at a press briefing today what could be wished for him this European season, he responded: « A bit of luck. I haven’t had much luck in the first four Grand Prix, if not at all. I think I’ve had my share of hard times. I hope that will stop with the arrival in Europe. »

JEV also explained that this European part of the season was more pleasant because the drivers and team members spend less time traveling, which allows better preparation for the races: « It’s certainly easier. We arrive on Wednesday evening, the team arrives on Tuesday evening instead of Sunday, Monday for non-European races. And we return on Sunday evening, so it certainly gives us more time to prepare and rest. »

Vergne therefore intends to make a fresh start in Barcelona and is counting on the updates made to his STR8: « We have quite a few new things on the car, a new floor, new exhausts, a new wing. We have a lot of new features. »

But he also knows that it is not going to be a revolution in terms of pure performance and hierarchy: « We reach a certain point where this car has been around for years. It is reaching the end of its development, the big teams are not finding half a second in the car, therefore, I think it is bit by bit. »

The Toro Rosso driver strongly thinks about the points but believes that replicating a great performance, like his teammate’s in China, will be possible but not before a few Grand Prix. He nevertheless believes that compared to his first season in 2012, the car is better, but it’s not so simple to make everything work well together: The car works better. It’s a better car than last year. In Bahrain, I didn’t have the chance to drive much to show that it was working, but Daniel [Ricciardo] had a problem in the race, and he was the slowest car on the track, so that’s something that is absolutely not normal. I think with all the small updates we’re bringing here to Barcelona, we should be well-placed. There’s always an element of the unknown; you never know exactly where you’ll be. With this year’s tires as well, it plays a significant role.

From our special correspondent in Barcelona