Trulli blasts Italy for F1 failures

Jarno Trulli has accused Italy of burying its head in the sand and failing to foresee or stave off the current situation that has left the country without a Formula One driver for the first time since 1969.

The 37-year-old has been ditched by Caterham in favour of Vitaly Petrov, just two weeks after Vitantonio Liuzzi was dumped by Hispania.

It means Formula One’s only Italian representatives this season will be constructors Ferrari and Toro Rosso.

For Trulli, though, this is a situation that his country should have seen coming.

“It’s a shame to have Formula One without any Italian drivers, I’m disappointed but it’s not my problem,” Trulli told Ansa.

“Others need to take responsibility for this penury, something which didn’t start yesterday but upon which everyone has been sleeping.

“In Italy we don’t have a system that helps drivers to reach the top level so it’s normal that we’ve arrived in a situation such as this.

“There is talent but if they’re not supported by anyone then they don’t have any hope.

“I want to see more involvement from everyone but during a crisis as we have in our country, I can’t see how a youngster can find the help needed to be considered by any team.”

And Trulli claimed that a team like Caterham, who were re-branded this season from Team Lotus, cannot afford to overlook drivers who bring with them significant financial backing from personal sponsors.

“I’m not personally disappointed, I was ready for the divorce with Caterham and I knew of the difficult economic situation that would force the team to look for a driver with adequate backing,” said the Italian.

“The small teams have certain needs and contracts speak for themselves. I hope that with Petrov’s contribution everyone who works there can have a more tranquil future.”

Italy produced two of the first three world champions with Giuseppe Farina winning the inaugural F1 season in 1950 and Alberto Ascari claiming back-to-back titles in 1952 and 1953.

However, the country has never won another drivers’ title despite Ferrari being the most successful constructor.

Italy are only ninth on the all-time list of drivers titles with three, a long way behind Great Britain in top spot with 14.