Marussia wants to better understand its package
Like its two competitors at the back of the pack, Marussia, on more stable footing, is trying to close the gap with its predecessors thanks to a new package introduced at the last Grand Prix. With weather conditions expected to be better than across the Channel, the Russian team hopes to learn more from these innovations to finish the first half of the season well.
Before Silverstone, Marussia, who could not reasonably expect to score points regularly, was eager to arrive on English soil to unveil new parts—specifically the nose and exhaust—that were expected to bring them closer to Caterham, and even Toro Rosso, who were trailing among the teams present before 2010. Alas, in addition to Caterham also having a substantial update to their car, the rain dashed all their hopes, allowing teams with new updates to gather more information only on Saturday morning and Sunday—on a dry track.
This is just a postponement for Hockenheim. With the weather looking more favorable in Germany, it’s an opportunity to revisit these innovations under ideal conditions. So, when Timo Glock talks about a “good start” and Charles Pic about “positive signs,” John Booth, the team’s director, is more forthcoming: “We are eager to further explore the potential of the aerodynamic package we introduced at Silverstone this weekend. We had a solid race there, but there were some even more promising flashes during the last Grand Prix that we couldn’t develop due to the weather.”
The Hockenheimring will therefore be the first circuit where these improvements will be demonstrated on the track. A meeting that is obviously special for the German Timo Glock, to the point that he is counting the days: We saw the support the team received two weeks ago at the British Grand Prix, but also the British drivers like Lewis [Hamilton] and Jenson [Button]. […] It will be a very special weekend for me, only 30 minutes from my family’s home. I’ve had some good results in this race in the past, and it’s always nice to have family and friends around to share the experience.
For Marussia, this is the last weekend of a series of three spent “at home,” for the team or one of its drivers: « This is our third consecutive “home” race, as we are coming from the British Grand Prix, just a stone’s throw from our factory, and from our demonstration in Russia last weekend [editor’s note: Marussia is a Russian manufacturer]. The next is Timo’s race on his home turf, and we expect to see a lot of support for him and the team. This will be a big boost for him, I’m sure, and it’s always a special feeling to have your nation’s crowd cheering you on. »
Even if the track itself is not frequently mentioned, the entire team seems to appreciate the German circuit. According to John Booth, the whole team is eager to return to Hockenheim for the first time since their inaugural season in F1 in 2010. For Timo Glock, it’s always a good race. Charles Pic, on the other hand, has only one experience there: “I raced at Hockenheim once, in GP2 in 2010, and I achieved pole position and finished 3rd on the podium.”
In conclusion, John Booth is simply amazed at how time flies: « It is hard to believe we have reached the middle of the season; the first six months have gone by so quickly. This is the first race of a back-to-back series leading us to the summer break, where everyone in the team can enjoy a well-deserved rest, so it would be nice to climb a few more steps in these two races and finish this part of the season on a high note. »
