The promising result of Marussia’s 2013 season showcased a rise in the stakes for the backmarker team, landing a place in the Constructor’s Championship ahead of the Air Asia backed rival Caterham team, who are the team’s closest competitors. The team’s highest finish at Malaysia, where Jules Bianchi wrestled the MR02 to finish in a tremendous 13th place, was certainly a highlight of the year. Can the team stride forth and build on their season in the 2014 Formula One World Championship?
Team:
John Booth, team principal and commander of the conservative Marussia franchise, has proven over the years to be a steady commander of the team in comparison to his previous compatriot in the rival backmarker team, Tony Fernandes, former team principal of the Caterham group.
The team moved from Wirth Research Group, where the strategy there was to adopt a more computer and lab-based car development approach, to a partnership with the worthy McLaren Applied Technologies in 2012. This move could very well have been the reason for their improved performance in the 2013 season, or it could be the stable relationship they have with their drivers; limiting driver changes and forming their team around them can only do wonders for their chances and the confidence of their crew.
Drivers:
Last year saw the inauguration of a driver who many in the media regarded as one of the finest new talents in the sport. Jules Bianchi, now in his second season, performed remarkably well in a car that just didn’t have the pace in comparison to the rival teams and seemed to chew through tires faster than Bugatti Veyron running on cheese wheels.
He managed to get the car ahead in qualifying and made fantastic launches at the starts, while defending his positions well, but the pace of the MR02 didn’t allow for anything further than that.
His aggressive driving style could play very well into the new brand of robust tires, but he’s going to have to go easy on the throttle with the monstrous torque of the new turbo V6 engines.
Returning for a second year in the number two spot is British pay-driver Max Chilton. The former touring car champ was disappointing in pace for the majority of last year, but he made up for that in reliability by being the only driver on the grid to have completed 100% race distances for the entire season. That also makes him the only rookie driver in history to have accomplished a complete season in their first year.
He has a fierce competitor in Bianchi, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him there or thereabouts in the points if the car holds up; other teams have already shown to be struggling with their cars or engines, so there is some hope yet for the team’s first points. The switch to Ferrari power, and the inkling of pre-season testing that the car is a sturdy little runner, could aid his more restrained driving style.
Car:
The MR03 is indeed one of the classiest looking cars on the grid. The team have done well to cover up a hideous phallic nose design with deep black paint, much better than other teams, and I hope the speed matches up with its distinctive paint-job.
With Cosworth now gone as an engine supplier for the sport, the team have taken on board Ferrari power. Early signs indicate the Ferrari power unit has some grunt to it and the ability to hold itself together, but time will tell whether it has all it needs to complete a race distance under competitive conditions.
If Marussia can get the most out of their relationship with Ferrari and McLaren, I see no reason why they cannot be the surprise of this era of Formula 1.
Predictions:
Best finish for Jules Bianchi: 10th
Best finish for Max Chilton: 14th
Driver’s Championship: 19th
Constructor’s Championship: 10th
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