Feb.26 (GMM) Lucas di Grassi's crash on Thursday raised fears that Virgin had experienced another wing failure.

After the new British team suffered a front wing failure recently at Jerez, it was feared Brazilian rookie di Grassi's crash at Barcelona was caused by a broken rear wing.

The Speedweek publication said technical director Nick Wirth studied video footage of the incident to ensure that a wing had not fallen off prior to the incident at turn 9.

But investigations showed that the VR-01, already delayed recently with a chronic hydraulic problem, had crashed because of "experimental control settings".

It meant di Grassi did not return to the track on Thursday, but the 25-year-old insists he is not frustrated by Virgin's teething problems.

"It's not what I want, but it's what I expected," he is quoted as saying by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

"Frustration now would be out of place. On the contrary, I have to motivate the guys in the team.

"If I was with an established team, I would have set myself a goal," di Grassi explained. "In my situation I have to grow with the team; to develop myself and the car at the same time."

Virgin hopes the VR-01, faster only than the Lotus on Thursday, is repaired so that Timo Glock can begin testing as scheduled on Friday morning.

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version