Glock stays at Virgin ‘knowing good times are coming’

Timo Glock has ended speculation linking him with a move away from Marussia Virgin Racing by signing a three-year contract at the Yorkshire-based team.

The 29-year-old German is now contracted to Virgin until the end of the 2014 season.

He cited the recent announcement of the technical partnership with Formula 1 powerhouse McLaren as one of the contributing factors.

Glock, who finished 17th in his home grand prix at the Nurburgring yesterday, said: “I am very happy to confirm that Marussia Virgin Racing will be my home for the next few years of my Formula 1 career.

“The past 18 months of racing have been quite tough, although this was always to be expected. As a driver I knew I would have to go back a few steps in order to move forward.

“Now we have tasted the difficult times together I can’t wait to be with the team when we start to enjoy the good times. And I know they are coming.

“I’ve seen tremendous belief from Marussia and hard work and commitment across the whole team. With the additional steps we have taken – the technical partnership with McLaren and bringing the whole team together – I believe we can achieve our goals together.

“This year we’ve demonstrated that we know how to build a reliable car, and with the resources we now have we should be able to add to that a high-performing car. After that it’s all about gradual but significant steps forward.”

The significant step forward next year has to be an injection of pace which the link-up with McLaren should ensure.

Glock has at times, in his 18 months with the Dinnington team, expressed his frustrations at their inability to match the pace of the midfield teams.

But as Virgin secured another two-car finish yesterday with Jerome D’Ambrosio coming home 18th, team principal John Booth expressed his delight that the experienced German will continue to be their lead driver.

“We’re very pleased he has faith in the team going forward, and it’s another stamp on our way to becoming a sensible team,” said Booth.

“Timo’s had tough times with the team, been a real hard ass at times, pushing me, the team and pushing himself.

“But what we are seeing now is a result of Timo’s hard work.”

As for team-mate D’Ambrosio – who had no idea Glock was due to be confirmed yesterday just minutes prior to the media conference – the Belgian’s future remains uncertain.

A problem with the flow of sponsorship money that provided a backdrop to the first half of his rookie campaign is now behind him. And Booth said: “Jerome has done an absolutely fabulous job for us this year.

“We are in discussion with his management and it would be great to go forward with him.”

On the race itself, Booth said: “We knew that the option tyres would work better, which is why we completed most of the race with them and waited until the very end to use the primes.

“Jerome struggled at the start of the race but after the first pit-stop found his way when the fuel load lightened and came back at (Hispania’s Daniel) Ricciardo, overtaking him in the second stint.

“We had a small issue with Timo’s braking system towards the end of the race and this slowed his pace. Overall, a pleasing result with the team working well under pressure.”

Glock added: “It was quite a difficult race. I struggled with the braking system from the middle of the race onwards and I wasn’t able to push late on in the race, so we have to look into the problem.

“Otherwise thanks to the team for a good weekend at my home grand prix.

“A shame it was so cold for everyone but we head to Hungary now for better weather and I hope we can have another good result there.”