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Senna says Yamamoto swap was 'internal decision'

ESPNF1 Staff
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Sakon Yamamoto has taken Bruno Senna's place this weekend © Sutton Images
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Bruno Senna has admitted he was disappointed to see HRT reserve driver Sakon Yamamoto selected over him for the British Grand Prix, but remained tight lipped on the exact reason why.

In a surprise announcement on Thursday evening, it was confirmed by team boss Colin Kolles that Yamamoto would stand in for Senna for the whole weekend. The exact reasons for the decision remain murky, but after meetings involving Senna, Kolles, HRT owner Jose Ramon Carabante and Senna's manager Chris Goodwin, the team said Senna will be back in the car for the German Grand Prix and beyond.

Brazilian reports say Senna's contract does not allow the team to change race drivers this year, but an agreement for Silverstone was reached in the meetings before the press statement was issued.

"It was an internal decision," admitted Senna to Brazil's TV Globo. "They wanted to give an opportunity to Sakon for a while. There are four drivers [Senna, Yamamoto, Karun Chandhok and Christian Klien] in the team. Of course I would like to be in the car and racing here, it's one of my favourite tracks. But what matters most is that I will be back in Germany and the following races."

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