Friday: The Marussias prove to be competitive
Max Chilton managed to get ahead of the Caterham drivers during the practice sessions at Monza, and he is delighted by it. Jules Bianchi experienced a more complicated day, only driving this afternoon after giving up his seat to Rodolfo Gonzalez this morning.
Max Chilton – 20th and 19th:
« I am obviously happy with this first day of running here. We had some good moments and made progress during both sessions, so finishing the day ahead of our closest rivals is a nice reward. We’ve done a lot of work to optimize our package here, as circuits with low downforce haven’t always played to the strengths of our car. We seem to have chosen a good direction nevertheless, the balance is good and I hope we can maintain this momentum for the rest of the weekend. »
Jules Bianchi – 22nd [Free Practice 2]:
The day was a bit frustrating for me because I had a lot to do just during this afternoon’s session, so I attacked hard and maybe a bit too much because I made some mistakes. This cost us in terms of consistency and even though we completed the entire program, I think there is more to expect from me and the car. It has been very hot so far, but we need to plan alternative scenarios because there is a strong chance the weather will change over the weekend. I hope that tonight we can catch up a bit in order to enjoy a calmer day for me tomorrow.
Rodolfo Gonzalez – 22nd [Free Practice 1]:
« It was pleasant to have the opportunity to drive during Free Practice 1 on such a legendary circuit as Monza this morning. It’s a magnificent layout and a fantastic experience in a Formula 1 car. My program was mainly focused on aerodynamics to enable the team to start assessing the low downforce settings brought here. Everything went according to plan, and I’m happy that my feedback plays a role in moving us forward this weekend. »
