It was a very eventful Spanish Grand Prix for both Toro Rosso drivers, but Jaime Alguersuari managed to score a point in his home race.
The Spaniard made up six places off the starting line, and had a problem during his pitstop with the wheel change. He also collided with Karun Chandhok, knocked-off the Hispania’s front wing, and received a drive-through penalty as punishment. Despite this, he managed to bring the car home in sixth place.
“I've got to be happy with scoring a point,” said Alguersuari, “even if my race was a bit of a mess, with the problem at the pit stop with the front left wheel nut and then the penalty after my collision with Chandok, but mistakes are part of racing.
“I was pleased that I got a very good start as it was important to get past other cars immediately, if I was going to have a good race. The backmarkers were very tough to overtake as they don't move out of the way that much and they are really slow. I am pleased with tenth place, even if I am upset a bit, because it could have been so much better, especially as our race pace was very strong.
“Now we go to Monaco where I know there is more potential to come from me, as I am still learning a lot and there is more to come from the team and the car. It will be another new track for me, which I will need to learn well if I want to score points again. I feel very motivated about the next race.”
Alguersuari’s teammate Sebastien Buemi also had an incident-packed race, but after a collision, nose change, and a drive-through penalty, he retired with a hydraulic problem. This Swiss driver recounts the problems he faced in this afternoon’s grand prix: “When the lights went out, initially I got off the line well and had a good start. A bit later, I was trying to pass De La Rosa going down the left side and he suddenly moved over towards me. We were very close and the impact broke my front wing, so I had to come in and change the nose.
“After that, my pace was not too bad, but then I got a drive-through for a pit lane infringement, but I'm not really sure why and finally I had to retire in the garage with a hydraulic problem. At least there are just a few days to Monaco when I can try again to get my first worthwhile result of the season.”
Team principal Franz Tost believes that Buemi will have some better luck soon, and praised Alguersuari for adding to his points tally. “Once again, Jaime did a fantastic job, moving up to ninth after the start. Unfortunately, there was an error at his pit stop when the front left wheel nut got stuck. This meant he dropped a couple of places. Then he was given a drive-through penalty after he collided with Chandok as he was lapping the Hispania car. He put in some really good lap times and was one of the fastest in the closing stages and it was good to get another point.
“As for Sebastien, once again he was involved in a collision, this time with De La Rosa. He had to come in for a nose change and later, he too got a drive-through penalty for dangerous driving out of the pit and finally he had to retire with a hydraulic problem, which we must now investigate. However, I am convinced he will get a good race result soon.”
