Friday: The new developments are working well at Marussia

Jules Bianchi – 19th and 19th:

« It was a good day today and it’s very nice to see real progress compared to the first two races, not just in terms of the result, but also in the way we have revised our working methods to ensure we get the best out of the car. It felt like a long time since the last time in the car, but from the start, I could feel the benefits of the development work that was done during this mini-break, so it’s nice because we know we need to keep pushing hard at the start of the season in particular. This morning, the track was very dirty, and it was quite complicated in some areas, but it didn’t take me long to find a good rhythm, and by the end of the day, the conditions improved. Overall, a good day and I’m happy at the moment. »

Max Chilton – 20th and 22nd:

« For a day that started so well this morning, it’s disappointing to have suffered such a setback during this afternoon’s session. This morning, I was really happy with the balance of the car and could feel the benefits of the new updates brought here. I was only a tenth behind Jules [Bianchi, ed.] after the first session, and I felt we were going to have a good pace during free practice 2. Unfortunately, it was cut short because after only four laps, the engine shut down to protect itself, and I had to pull over on the track. I must tip my hat to the guys who managed to fix the car quickly so I could get back on track. Clearly, we haven’t fully grasped the problem, but it was still a great effort from everyone. Tomorrow will be a big challenge, so we have a long night ahead with the engineers to compare data and do everything right during free practice 3 to prepare well for the qualifying. »