Marussia (Ferrari): 17 – Jules Bianchi (France)- 4 – Max Chilton (Britain) A switch to Ferrari engines, inevitable after Cosworth quit the sport, is a big step in the right direction for Formula One’s smallest team. The line-up is unchanged, another bonus. Money remains extremely tight, however, and that will limit how much they can achieve in performance terms. A first point might just be on the cards if races prove as unpredictable and other cars are as unreliable as some fear they will be. GP247 Prediction: It can be argued that Marussia have over-delivered in their short time in Formula 1. Although anchored to the bottom of the pack since their birth in 2010 as Virgin Racing, this year they have shown signs of a resurgence with their new car, relative to rivals who are struggling with engine issues. Retaining Bianchi and Chilton gives the outfit stability, and although shooting up the pecking order is unlikely, they certainly are looking a better option than their back of the grid rivals as they head to Melbourne, but truth is that back of the grid is where they will be jousting.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 05:53:33 +0000