The Marussia F1 team will want to put the disappointment of the double retirement in Montreal when the F1 season resumes at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. Both Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton collided on the opening lap in Canada eliminating them both and head into Austria wanting to get their season back on track.
Bianchi admits he enjoys learning new tracks and working out the car set-up as he heads into his maiden Austrian Grand Prix. The Frenchman, part of the Ferrari young driver programme, wants to continue Marussia’s promising season that has already seen the team score their first ever points in Monaco.
“I always enjoy the challenge of a new circuit,” said Bianchi. “It isn’t new for everyone of course, but I think the starting point will be pretty similar for all of the teams as it’s been such a long time since F1 raced there. Adapting to a new circuit is one of my favourite challenges as a driver, both in terms of working with my engineers to tailor the car to the track and also putting to the test my own ability to get to grips with a new layout and characteristics. I really enjoy this.
“We’ve done some simulation work and the track looks really good; another interesting challenge for us. I hope we can continue the strong direction we have seen at recent events and get a nice result for the Team.”
Team-mate Chilton is looking forward to the Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring and feels the track will be enjoyable to race on based on his experience in the simulator.
“I’m really looking forward to my first Austrian Grand Prix and my first experience of Spielberg,” said Chilton. “So far this season it has been a case of consolidating my experience of tracks I raced at for the first time last year in my debut season, so it’s nice to shake it up a bit with an unknown quantity and level the playing field a bit.
“From our simulations the track looks fun and fast, so I’m sure I will enjoy getting to grips with it. The car is performing well at the moment so we’ll be looking to make the most of that and ensure a positive weekend for the Team.”
Team Principal John Booth admits his team have analysed the track on the simulator having had no previous experience at Spielberg. He feels the team have made big advances in recent races and hopes to see the team challenging the midfield runners.
“We’re very excited to begin the next European phase of the season in Austria, which is like a brand new Formula 1 race for the majority of our Team yet, at the same time, is a venue with a fascinating history,” said Booth. “A few of our number have experienced the circuit previously, but to all intents and purposes the sport has had to begin its approach to this Grand Prix with a clean sheet of paper.
“As is the case up and down the field, we will be reliant upon the simulation work we have conducted in recent weeks, together with the proven ability of our young engineers and drivers to read and adapt to the demands of a new circuit once running is underway. Our package has shown great promise during the course of the last few race weekends and it goes without saying that the Team will be focusing its efforts on extracting even more of that potential and hopefully underlining our recent trend in keeping the midfield in our sights.”
