Lotterer refuses Caterham F1’s offer, Merhi claims to have a deal
Caterham faced André Lotterer's refusal to race for the team in Abu Dhabi. At the same time, third driver Roberto Merhi claims to have an agreement to race the final Grand Prix.
After revealing that he had been approached by Caterham to race in Abu Dhabi—after a first stint this season at Spa and initially declining to race with the team at Monza—Endurance driver for Audi and three-time Le Mans winner André Lotterer stated that he had turned down the offer.
« I’m flattered because you don’t get called to do F1 every day. The one-shot at Spa was a big thing for me, but doing more would mean being in a better situation: I don’t want to be a guy who races at the back. If I can see opportunities in F1 for a better seat, I might see things differently, but that doesn’t seem to be the case, » the German said to Autosport.
At the same time, Spaniard Roberto Merhi, who completed several FP1 sessions for Caterham F1 towards the end of the season, states through his father that he has an agreement to race in the Grand Prix if one of the two main drivers is unavailable. Marcus Ericsson having ended his collaboration with Leafield, this condition seems to be met.
« I have heard stories that administrator Finbarr O’Connell has contacted people, or that some people have contacted him. They should know what it’s about, because we have a contract that says if one of the two main drivers can’t race, Robert must race. […] If there is a contract, they must respect the contract and perhaps be bound by it. The team said they were going to race. I’ve heard strange information about [the people who would be in the car], » said Roberto Merhi Sr. Besides André Lotterer, the name Alice Powell was mentioned.
« I think Monza did a lot of good for Roberto. Everyone knew he had never driven a Formula 1 car or raced with those tires, and he went to Monza and was faster [than Ericsson]; same thing in Sochi when it was a new circuit for everyone. »
