Virgin wait for change of luck

And Sebastian Buemi’s clumsy challenge which railroaded Timo Glock out of Sunday’s rain-hit race could just have cost the Dinnington team a whopping £17 million.

Both Glock and Lucas Di Grassi were forced out with the former running well in 12th and within sight on Virgin’s first point of the campaign when he was t-boned by Torro Rosso’s Buemi on the 31st lap, the Swiss driver losing control at the end of the skidpan straight when rashly trying to pass on the inside.

The German was driving well and Virgin reported no problems when the crash happened and with three drivers subsequently retiring-Vitaly Petrov, Sebastian Vettel and Adrian Sutil-it would realistically have given John Booth’s team their first point with a top ten finish.

That, barring a major upswing in the results of both main rivals Lotus and HRT Cosworth, would have been enough for Virgin to finish top of the new teams and pocket the £17 million for finishing top of the three new teams in tenth position in the final rankings.

Instead, Virgin now need four good finishes in Brazil next week and in the finale in Abu Dhabi to clamber above Lotus.

To do so, says Booth, Virgin need a huge slice of luck.

“It was a really unlucky day for us as we were looking good for a strong placing with both cars,” said Booth.

“Timo was up to 12th place and comfortably leading the new teams’ battle when he was hit by Buemi in an accident which was entirely Buemi’s fault and for which he was subsequently penalised.

“Lucas had made a good early switch to intermediate tyres, which would have benefited him as the race unfolded, but he crashed trying to avoid HRT’s Sakon Yamamoto.

“Both our cars sustained considerable damage but we will regroup and bounce back strongly in Brazil.”