Formula One news

One step at a time for De Ferran

Indianapolis 500 winner Gil de Ferran is learning how to crawl before he walks in Formula One. The retired driver, a Brazilian, became BAR's new 'sporting director' a fortnight ago. "I walked through the Imola gate with a clean sheet in my mind," he explained this week. "I did not feel out of my depth."

The ex-Champ Car champion did, though, refer to the 'complex' nature of a F1 team and weekend. Does he think he'll adapt? "It's early days," said Gil. "I'm sure things will become clearer as the weekends roll on."

One of de Ferran's main tasks is working with drivers Jenson Button and Takuma Sato -- but he won't, for example, be telling them where to brake. "These are top flight professionals," Gil countered.

So will he start to 'walk' at Barcelona, scene of the next grand prix? "I'm taking it step by step," de Ferran explained. "In Spain I plan to do much the same as in Imola."

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