No team wants to be a backmarker. Throughout F1 history we’ve seen countless constructors that have never quite been as competitive as the rest. Minardi, EuroBrun, HRT, Simtek…all names associated with the back end of the field. But, with the recent regulations overhaul and a car that looks increasingly competitive, can Marussia escape the ‘new teams’ battle and establish itself as a mid-pack runner? After gaining their first points finish, they seem to stand the best chance of doing so.
Their result at Monaco is a good indication of how far the team has come. Jules Bianchi’s 9th place finish provided Marussia with their first championship points, and although eight drivers failed to finish, the Frenchman still crossed the line ahead of Kevin Magnussen’s McLaren and Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari.
The performance not only showcased Bianchi’s skill (it’s only a matter of time before he gets a Ferrari call up) but also the improvements made by the team over the winter. This style of performance wasn’t a one-off for the team either. Max Chilton has caught glimpses of the top ten on several occasions, his best result being 13th in Australia and China. These top-15 finishes are still hard to come by, but are becoming far less of a rarity. On paper at least, it looks as though Marussia are stepping closer to regular F1 midfield racing.
The lap times are getting quicker. 0.8 seconds off Q2 in Canada may be a lot in F1 terms, but compare that to a gap of nearly three seconds last year at the same event. It’s no secret that Marussia are moving forward, and I’ve got a feeling that we’ll see a repeat of that famous Monegasque performance again soon.
But how will they shake off their ‘back-marker’ tag with comparatively little money in the bank? In terms of 2013 spending, Marussia were pitched at £51m. Now, while that may appear a hefty sum to you and I, it would scream insolvency to any other F1 team.
Their budget was just under £200m less than the economic heavyweights of the sport, Ferrari (although perhaps the gap may be abridged this season now that Marussia are running on prancing horses). This leaves little room for development, which of course is vital for any team if they’re to climb up the constructor’s standings. Therefore, crashes like the one in Canada that ended both Chilton and Bianchi’s races on the opening lap have more serious repercussions for lower teams. Incidents can harm the rate of development, which for a team like Marussia is something they need to avoid if they are to progress their technology to be more competitive.
Since taking over Virgin Racing, Marussia have continually fought against Caterham for the best of the lower positions. It’s easy to assume that Marussia are streets ahead of Caterham following Monaco, but in terms of results the two teams are comparable. For example, Bianchi has averaged a finishing position of 15th from the four races he’s finished, while Kamui Kobayashi has averaged 0.25 positions ahead of Bianchi in the same number of events. Even if Marussia’s switch to Ferrari power has given them a huge improvement, the Renault-powered Caterham team haven’t been as far behind as first thought.
But, Ferrari backing is probably where Marussia’s advantage lies. If they’re to break into the midfield they need a big supplier. Before the deal last year, Marussia were configuring their own gearboxes, which was a time-consuming process. Now with Ferrari-supplied gearboxes, they can focus on improving the chassis and energy recovery systems, all of which has led to a much quicker development of the MR03.
For Marussia, it’s a slow and steady process. While they may be short on funds, there is enough driver talent and surface stability to make the Anglo-Russian team the leader in the battle at the back of the field.
So, the more points they get, the more the team improves. Bianchi’s exploits in Monaco are estimated at potentially bringing in $30m of prize money come the end of the season. With sought after funds at their disposal and a solid driver line-up, the F1 world can be confident that the midfield club is going to be graced with an extra pair of cars in the next few seasons.
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