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Tost: It would've been tough for Loeb

Wednesday 11th November 2009

Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost admits Sebastian Loeb will need to spend more time behind the wheel of an F1 car if he wants to race in an grand prix.

World Rally Champion Loeb was set to drive for STR in the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, but the FIA effectively blocked the move by deciding not to award him a super license.

Tost believes it would have been tough for Loeb to drive in the season-ending race without much experience.

"I understand that Loeb wants to do a Formula 1 race and I think the idea is quite good because he is six times World Rally Champion and just the comparison between the best rally driver in the world and the best Formula 1 drivers would be quite interesting," Tost told Autosport.

"But to do such a race, he must be prepared. That means something like three test days just to get used to everything. It's quite complicated even to do the starting process. We observed this with our drivers this year. It's not so easy just to come in and you think you can do everything. There are so many switches and so many mappings you have to take care of. Apart from that, to drive Formula 1 cars nowadays is not so easy.

Tost, though, was also quick to point that Loeb may yet drive in an F1 race, provided he gets enough testing time.

"If Loeb has the time to test and to be prepared, there's no reason why he couldn't do a proper job."

Your Comments

F1Naija

"Thanks @ronniepilgrim35. May I even ask: what does it take to get a Super Licence?"

ElvisBeavis

"What would happen when he gets to turn 1 and there's no-one sat next to him telling him left or right. Also WRC is basically time trialing so he'd crap himself heading into turn 1 with another 20 odd cars trying to do the same. I'd like to see him try though, even if only to silence the WRC fans who think F1 is easy."