After two years racing for Caterham F1 Team and Marussia F1 Team, Charles Pic joins Lotus F1 Team for 2014 as Third Driver eager to bring benefit to the outfit and prove his worth alongside Romain and Pastor.
How does it feel to join Lotus F1 Team?
I am very excited to join a top team and Lotus F1 Team have certainly shown that they are a top team in this sport. It’s a great honour for me and I will be working hard to give my best to the team throughout 2014.
How much of a change is it for you coming to the team?
Obviously, the big change is that I won’t be racing in Formula 1, but I will be at the races and working in meetings which will help me develop and progress as a driver. In terms of resources Lotus F1 Team have a fantastic facility at Enstone and the people there have experience of winning Championships. I will be spending a lot of time with the squad and I expect to learn a lot from them.
It must be frustrating not to be racing?
Of course it will be frustrating sometimes. My role this year will be new and different from the previous two seasons when I was a race driver and it was very clear what I had to do, which was to optimise my own performance. This year as a third driver my role will be to help the team to enable Romain and Pastor to attain the team’s targets and deliver the best performance on track.
How does your race experience from the past two seasons assist with your role?
I know all the tracks as I raced for the past two years and I also know how a race weekend works. The race drivers’ time is precious so I can help wherever possible whether it be with meetings and a driver’s perspective at the track, or conducting simulator work back at the factory. Having race experience helps with all of this.
Is this an important step in your career?
I have learned a lot during my first two seasons in Formula 1 and you can always improve and do better. Working with a top team is the next step in my development and I think I will learn a lot from this. I’m happy with my progress from my first two seasons in Formula 1 and at 24 I still have good potential for the future.
Are you ready to jump into the car for race action if needed?
Of course this will be a part of my job! What is important in order to be ready is to keep driving the car as often as possible. I am very happy about the programme I have for 2014 so I will be ready to deliver if the call comes.
What will you be looking to achieve from any time you have in the car?
I will be exceedingly focused on doing the job required, by being consistent and giving the right information and feedback to the team.
What do you think of your new team-mates Romain and Pastor?
They are two drivers who I know well from my time in the GP2 Series and then in Formula 1. They are both very fast and exciting drivers and I’m very happy to work with them in 2014. I’ll be doing everything I can to help them in any way possible.
What do you think of the new regulations and the racing we should see in 2014?
I think 2014 will be very challenging for everyone which makes it exciting as no-one knows exactly what will happen. It will be very interesting to watch it unfold at the track, especially as I have been racing for the last two seasons.
What are your thoughts of the E22?
It looks like an exciting car, and certainly not the ugliest out there! What matters is how it performs on track so the eight days of testing in Bahrain are important. We all want the season to start well in Melbourne, but this season there will be a lot of car development. I can’t wait to get started.