Gastaldi: Lotus can fight for points

Singapore showed Lotus could fight for points. More of the same at Suzuka?

Yes. Singapore showed we could be in the hunt for points on merit. It was satisfying to get a second consecutive double finish of course, but ultimately we want points. I am sure we will get more chances and we just need that final push to ensure we capitalise on these positive situations. For Suzuka we’re pushing to get back in to the top ten. For sure, the team’s efforts deserve this reward and we are doing everything we can to get back there.

How do you summarise the driver’s performances in Singapore?

Very good. I was impressed by the way that Pastor bounced back from the incident in free practice. He showed again his strong characteristics and that he is very confident in the car when things are running well. He was on the edge of the points and looking good, even after four pit stops, which shows that when everything is right he is a very competitive proposition. Romain was typically excellent too, and did the maximum with what was available to him in Singapore. Again, I state that our drivers are racing with exceptional motivation and desire, which is reflecting the philosophy of the whole team.

How do you view Romain’s comments on the radio during qualifying?

Well, in the heat of the moment passions can boil over. Sometimes they can do so when things are not going your way and this is exactly what happened. After all, sometimes people say the drivers are too boring or don’t have opinions or show their human side. It happens sometimes under extreme circumstances and this is what happened last Saturday. We were all tremendously disappointed but of course Romain was the one who got hit by the disappointment first and he reacted. Sometimes it is difficult to stop human emotion coming to the surface. It was quite ironic that radio communications was the hot topic in Japan for the things that were not meant to be said and then they become the headlines for something else that is said under difficult circumstances!

Singapore and Japan are important commercially. The team seems to be in good stead from this point of view?

Yes, we are strong in this area which is satisfying. We have several new partners in 2014 and we have lots of them signed for 2015 as well. I think that this reflects the confidence the team has as a commercial entity even though it has been a tough season on the track. As has been reported, we are due to post much reduced losses as a company very shortly. The immediate future looks very bright and everyone is pushing extra hard to prepare for 2015.

What are the most appealing aspects of racing in Japan?

There are several. Firstly there is a huge appetite for motorsport in Japan. This is both in the sporting and technical context. Everyone knows that the fans in Japan are among the most special in terms of their knowledge and devotion to the sport. So it is very important for us to be racing here and also to have a good weekend on the track. The whole nation of Japan gets tuned in to the F1 groove and it is good for the country and for F1. Suzuka is also a great challenge for the drivers and they will be hungry to deliver. Like Spa, Monaco and Silverstone, I don’t think anyone dislikes going to Suzuka. It has everything that makes F1 great; an incredible track, great fans and somewhere that the drivers and engineers really learn a lot about the car.