Alexander Rossi believes in a future with Marussia

In July, the American Alexander Rossi decided to leave Caterham. But this decision was made partly due to the change in shareholders and also because of his failed start to the GP2 season with Caterham Racing: « To be honest, a bit of both. Obviously, the main reason is the change in shareholders because, since the Team Lotus era, my main connection with the team was Tony Fernandes. So when he left the team, it was a big blow for us. But indeed, the start of the GP2 season wasn’t very promising because we were struggling to find performance and to resolve various issues. So when new shareholders came in, it made sense to end our partnership and look elsewhere. I think it was a good decision for all parties involved. »

But he did not stay on the sidelines for long because two weeks after his departure from Leafield, he had found a new employer with Marussia. The management structure around the driver began discussions very quickly after the announcement of the change in shareholders: « As soon as Sunday at Silverstone, I knew I was not going to continue with Caterham in GP2. I think Marussia was aware of this, so we started discussions and were able to finalize an agreement for Budapest. Honestly, I was a bit surprised because I did not expect them to contact me. »

The young driver is therefore in an ideal position to compare the operations within two teams competing to enter the top 10 of the world constructors’ championship: « These two teams work extremely hard. They do everything possible with the budget they have available. What impresses me most about Marussia is their efficiency. They clearly have the fewest employees in the field, at least significantly fewer than Caterham. I think it’s impressive that they’ve managed to overcome all the changes this year with so few people. It shows how efficient and productive they are. »

From a personal point of view, he is also delighted with the change as he is even more involved than at Caterham: « I’m doing more here! From the start, I felt good here, I really felt like part of the team. Outside of the car, I feel much more welcome. »

However, for the first time in his career, he is not completing a full season in competition: « It’s clearly different, it feels strange. It’s obviously not what I wanted at the beginning of the year. But GP2 was going nowhere. We couldn’t achieve the pace we had at the end of last season or in winter testing. Honestly, everything was falling apart. So I think if I had finished the season there, I don’t think I would have been in a better position than now. I don’t think we could have turned things around. So at the time, it hurt, but in hindsight, I think it was a good thing that it happened to me because now I can focus on my future with Marussia. »

Thus in Belgium, he almost competed in his first F1 race since his team had to settle contractual issues with Max Chilton, but he only takes the positive from the situation: « It was a very interesting Thursday, much more than I expected. There was obviously a great sense of excitement when I learned I would be driving in the race and a great sense of disappointment when I learned I ultimately couldn’t. People asked me a lot about how I handled it, and actually, it was easier because I found out so late. Because if I had found out a week or two before the weekend, the excitement would have been even higher. But as it was, it went away as quickly as it came. So obviously, I was disappointed, but the weekend didn’t turn out differently from what I expected. »

But for him, the most important thing is that the team showed the outside world that they had enough confidence in him to entrust him with a race seat even though he had never driven their single-seater: « We have already seen other teams going to find other drivers outside the team in this kind of situation. So for the team to give me the green light not only showed the confidence they had in me but also strengthened the confidence that the industry as a whole could have in me. I have therefore gained a lot of credibility within the motorsport community. So in any case, I am a winner. »

This experience has therefore reinforced his belief that he is now ready to enter F1: « You know, I knew I was ready to enter F1 if an opportunity presented itself. But as long as the team never said, « Go », it keeps running through your mind. But now I am 10,000% sure that I am ready for F1! »

This is what the Belgian episode may have changed the most in the young Californian: Spa was a turning point. Now I know that I have to approach every weekend as if I were able to take the wheel in the race. This is what I think about every day.

His goal by the end of the season is therefore to get back in the driver’s seat. It is reasonable to think that he will likely be behind the wheel during the Friday morning practice session in Austin, in front of his home crowd, even though the team has not yet confirmed it: « Nothing is confirmed, but it’s clearly one of our objectives and even more than that. But we must also find a fair balance because we must respect the drivers who have been here since the beginning of the year. When they arrived, there was no reserve driver. Their schedule must therefore be adjusted with my arrival. So we need to be a bit patient, but in the end, I think I will be back in the car this year. I don’t know how many times, but we are obviously trying to have as many as possible. »

For 2015, Alexander Rossi is adamant about his goal: 100% F1. Nothing else. I have dedicated 7 years of my life to Europe and I will only consider something else when there are no other possibilities in F1. But I’m not there yet.

For him, the arrival of Haas in 2016 is just a distant possibility: « Yes, as Americans, we have had discussions. But, at the moment, they clearly have other things to do than worry about their driver duo. We have had no discussion for me to come talk with them. I am very happy at Marussia and see no reason to go elsewhere. »

From our special correspondent in Monza