Russian GP: Marussia F1 has not yet decided to replace Jules Bianchi
Affected by the terrible accident of its driver Jules Bianchi, the Marussia team has not yet decided whether to field two cars for the Russian Grand Prix. The decision will be made tomorrow morning, with the first practice sessions.
Less than a week after the Japanese Grand Prix during which their driver Jules Bianchi was seriously injured, the Marussia team must decide whether to immediately replace the Frenchman or to field only one car, that of Max Chilton, on the streets of Sochi’s Olympic village.
The Russian-origin team will decide to run the American Alexander Rossi for the entire weekend, starting tomorrow morning before the first free practice session, according to Autosport. The Marussia reserve driver has already been entered on the list of participants, simply to comply with the deadline that requires a driver to be registered by Thursday at 4 p.m.
The team will only run a second car with the support of Jules Bianchi’s close ones, who are currently by his side at the hospital in Yokkaichi. Among them is John Booth, the director of Marussia F1, who chose not to make the trip to Russia.
If, contractually, the teams must field two cars at each event, contacts have been made with Bernie Ecclestone, the president of the FOM, who indicated that there would be no consequences if the team does not field a car or even does not participate at all in the Russian round.
