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Rookies 'learn the hard way' - van der Garde

ESPN Staff
August 15, 2013 « Ferrari rubbishes Raikkonen link | Kaltenborn sees signs of Sauber recovery »
Giedo van der Garde: "You have to deal with it. I think I'm dealing with it quite well" © Sutton Images
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Giedo van der Garde says rookie drivers "have to learn the hard way" in Formula One with such little testing.

After four years in GP2, van der Garde stepped up to a race seat with Caterham this season with six FP1 outings under his belt. With only three pre-season tests to get fully acclimatised with the team and the 2013 car, van der Garde told ESPN that he feels he has been constantly learning throughout his opening 10 races.

Asked what he felt was the main thing he had learnt in the first half of the season, van der Garde replied: "Everything.

"If you come from GP2 to Formula One it's quite a big step. You have a lot of things to do; a lot of media events, a lot of events with sponsorship, there's always a big program next to driving the car. The team is much bigger so you have to get used to everything.

"The races are longer, you have much more free practice, you have much more discussions, much more new things on the car and the car is always changing - this you have to get used to. I think it's tough for a rookie to come in with not a lot of testing and to jump in.

"You have to learn the hard way but that's the only thing that's there now and you have to deal with it. I think I'm dealing with it quite well."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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