Marussia is on schedule for 2013

Unlike in 2012, Marussia should go to Jerez for the first tests of the next F1 season with its 2013 car. Graeme Lowdon, team director, states that Marussia is on schedule and that the design of the upcoming MR02 is progressing well: « It’s our goal [to be present in Jerez with the new car]. We are even ahead in some areas. We are very confident. We now have a completely new structure. »

At the beginning of its history, the team, then called Virgin, had indeed bet on 100% CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics, roughly computer-based wind tunnel) before changing its approach during the 2011 season, as the results were not particularly convincing. Today, the MR02 will benefit from a more conventional design approach. “This will be our first real car. The single-seater with which we just finished the season had only been tested by CFD when we arrived at the first race,” adds Lowdon to Autosport.

Another aspect that makes the boss of the Russian team optimistic is that they could have secured 10th place in the constructors’ championship. Timo Glock’s 12th place in Singapore had placed Marussia in the Top 10, but Petrov did better at Interlagos by finishing 11th with his Caterham at Interlagos.

« I think we are a Top 10 team. In Brazil, Timo [Glock]’s best pit stop was faster than those at McLaren. People don’t pay attention to these things, but we now have a very good team. If we had a faster car, which is another piece of the puzzle, then we could beat these teams. And what I’ve seen so far makes me believe that next year’s car will be a very good car. »

In 2013, Marussia will still be powered by a Cosworth engine and will finally be equipped with the KERS system. On the drivers’ side, only Timo Glock has a contract. Charles Pic will leave the team to join Caterham. To replace him, the Englishman Max Chilton seems to be the most likely candidate.