The Marussia F1 Team are hopeful of a positive race at the Hungaroring to take some momentum into the mid-season break. Both Frenchman Jules Bianchi and Briton Max Chilton are keen to continue the teams improved form they have shown so far in 2014.
Bianchi is hoping for a good final race before the mid-season break, and is prepared for the challenge of the demanding Hungaroring circuit. He has some fond memories of the circuit from his first year in single-seaters back in 2007.
“I have some good memories of Hungary as my second race in Eurocup in Formula Renault took place here in 2007 and I got two pole positions,” said Bianchi. “It is an interesting track because there are big braking events, long corners and some quite bumpy parts and also there is little time to draw breath around the lap.
“It will be a busy week for sure, and probably a very hot one, so I hope we can have a nice reward and end the first part of the season in a strong position versus the cars around us.”
Team-mate Chilton also has good memories of this circuit, having won in the GP2 Series for Carlin in 2012, and knows how gruelling the Hungaroring is. He is hopeful to continue the progress both he and the team are making, and does not want to get caught behind a Caterham again like he did in Germany.
“I really like the Hungaroring and it’s a place that holds special memories for me having won here in GP2 from pole position,” said Chilton. “The track is quite arduous as the lap is so relentless and the temperatures can be tough for the cars and the Team. It is all corners, so driving technique and car set-up are very important.
“In development terms we need a strong and reliable weekend, hopefully benefiting from what we learned in Germany last week. The progress continues but we need to ensure we can realise more of it during the course of a race, so we’re not finding ourselves out of position with the Caterhams.”
Team Principal John Booth is hopeful of a positive race weekend just before the mid-season summer break, and is optimistic what the team learned from last weekend’s German Grand Prix will enable the team to head into the break with the momentum to continue moving forward.
“As is usually the case with the back to back races, part of the Team went on ahead to Budapest to commence the set-up process, while the engineering group returned to the UK,” said Booth. “Back at our base there we have been making the most of a short but valuable period to consider the findings of the German Grand Prix and look to what we can do at the Hungaroring to ensure we end the first half of the season on a positive note.
“Although the rapid turnaround in what are usually very high temperatures can be tough on the Team, this is a race and venue we enjoy and the fans are very welcoming and enthusiastic. Over the next few days we have a lot of work to do to apply what we learned last weekend and ensure there is sufficient momentum to carry us through the break so that we continue to be strong when we embark on the crucial second phase of the season.”
