Friday: The innovations seem to be working at Marussia
Jules Bianchi was delighted with his first day of testing in Abu Dhabi, as the Frenchman believes his Marussia has improved thanks to new parts. Rodolfo Gonzalez drove this morning and the Venezuelan enjoyed his time on the Yas Marina circuit. Max Chilton, absent during free practice 1, had to make up for lost time, but it wasn't easy.
Jules Bianchi – 21st and 20th:
« I am quite pleased with how my day went. We seemed strong from the start with the new aerodynamic updates we had this morning, and we did a good job with the new suspension elements. This afternoon, the conditions were similar to what we will have for qualifying and the race – the same brightness and temperatures – so it was good for us to know where we stood compared to the others. I think it will be very tight, so we’re not taking anything for granted; we will push to achieve the best possible result on Sunday. »
Rodolfo Gonzalez – 22nd [Free Practice 1]:
« It was nice to be back in the car again and to drive on such a fantastic circuit. In 22 laps, we collected a lot of data for the team which will be important to determine the progress made over the rest of the weekend. As always, it’s satisfying to do work that helps the team and I look forward to seeing how it will work in the coming days. »
Max Chilton – 22nd [Free Practice 2]:
« It was a short day for me after giving up my seat to Rodolfo for this morning’s free practice. I’ve driven here in the past, so I know the circuit well, and the acclimatization was brief. As I started my stint, I felt that something was wrong with the car. It seems I damaged a brake duct, but we’re not sure how it happened. The guys worked hard to replace the duct, and I’m glad to have gotten a few laps in after that. We’re a bit in search of the car’s balance, but this is the right time to do it since these are the conditions we expect for qualifying and the race. It’s not a bad start, but there’s going to be a lot to do to prepare for Free Practice 3. »
