Friday: Chilton thrilled to have been able to drive the Marussia

Pastor Maldonado – 7th and 9th:

« Today was much better (than previous Fridays, ed.) because everything went well and I’m delighted. Our pace on the long runs seems fast once again, the qualifying pace less so, but I think we are still good compared to what everyone else did today. Qualifying will be important here because it’s difficult to overtake. I love this circuit, and we seem competitive. »

Max Chilton – 22nd [Free Practice 1]:

« My free practice session 1 went exactly as I had hoped, and I want to thank the Marussia F1 team once again for making it possible. I couldn’t stop smiling all day. I had been looking forward to this opportunity for several weeks already, but when the moment arrived—with all the pressure—I have to admit I was a bit nervous. I wanted everything to go well and wished to have as much track time as possible. In the end, considering the tire longevity, we completed two long stints of eight laps each, where I was able to work on new parts, procedures, and systems. In the first stint, I was really happy to immediately improve—and to continue improving. I hoped to do the same in the second stint, but unfortunately, I got caught in traffic behind an HRT. There was clearly more to expect, and that is the only frustration from what was a memorable day. The team really supported me, and a big thank you to the engineering team and the mechanics today, who made me feel right at home. »

Charles Pic – 22nd [Free Practice 2]:

« It was nice to be back in the car at Yas Marina this afternoon. It’s a circuit I really enjoy, and I hope we can continue the positive work started in India. At the beginning of free practice 2, I drove to find my pace on track – I did it quite quickly – and I prepared for qualifying and the race, adapting to the changing light conditions. We are not where we would like to be, so I hope I can take a step forward for tomorrow. »