Q&A with Marco Sorensen, Lotus Reserve and Development Driver

Marco Sørensen joins Lotus F1 Team as Reserve and Development Driver for 2014 with a focus on simulator work, but an obvious aspiration to get behind the wheel of the real thing too…

How does it feel to join Lotus F1 Team in this new role?

It is an honour and it’s a really good step in the right direction for my career. It gives me an extra push to deliver and do well for the future.

Is this a vital next step in your career?

It’s a fantastic next step. I’ve been working with the team for quite a few years. I started with the young driver programme in 2009, when Lotus F1 Team was still Renault F1 Team, so I first met them a while ago. I had a couple of difficult seasons in 2010 and 2011 when I didn’t have a proper race season in any category, but I finished in second place in the German Formula Three Series in 2011 which was very good for me. I began to do more work with Gravity and Lotus F1 Team and for 2013 I worked with the simulator at Enstone. I was working very closely with the team last year and that work’s been rewarded by this latest step for me.

How do you find the simulator work?

It’s really interesting. The amount we can help with the development of the car is amazing. We’re working all the time to make it more realistic, but already now it’s a really good part of the team and it’s a good way to develop not only the driver, but also things on the car. You can test things before you go on the track, so that’s a really good strength.

How does the latest V6 turbo compare with the previous V8 car?

I’ve been driving both versions of the car and for sure the V6 is a bigger challenge to drive as you have all this torque and it’s really hard to put the power down on the track. It makes it a lot more difficult to make a perfect lap – it really is more of a challenge than with the previous cars. All the drivers will have their work cut out in 2014, I’m quite sure about that.

What do you think of the team’s prospects in 2014?

I think the driver line up is strong – Romain and Pastor certainly know what they are doing. From what I’ve seen I’m quite hopeful for the car and that it is ridiculously quick as well! I know a lot of people in the team and there are some great staff here. There’s a good atmosphere, it’s been quite tough the last half a year or so, but I think Lotus F1 Team will make its way up and be the top team again.

What will your role with the team entail?

I’ll be doing a lot of the simulator work this year, and then we’ll see if there are any tests. I’m looking forward to doing a good job in the simulator and helping to get some extra pace in the car as it’s a great way to show my value to the team. I’m probably going to come to six or seven F1 races during the season and that will be fantastic experience too. We’ve a really good driver line-up with Romain and Pastor racing, then Charles as a Third driver with lots of recent race experience, and me working alongside Nico who is very experienced and a great guy to work with.

What do you think of the E22 in the flesh?

It looks great. Obviously I’m completely 100% keen to do everything I can in development with the simulator, but I hope I also get a chance to jump in the E22 during the season so I can give even more feedback to the guys at the factory, and for my own development. I will push really hard to fulfil this wish, that’s for sure.