Formula 1’s smallest teams and the 2 teams with the least resources have launched their cars yesterday in Barcelona. The teams fought last year for the better position and trying not be the worst team in the sport.
Marussia has unveiled its new Formula 1 car – the MR01 – after it made its on-track debut at Silverstone on Monday.
The Anglo-Russian team is running the car for the first time at the British track after it had failed the mandatory crash tests last week and was therefore unable to join its rival in Barcelona for the final test.
“We are very pleased to be running the new MR01 for the first time this morning,” said team boss John Booth. “It has been a long and frustrating wait for everyone in the team but we can now get back on track – literally – and start working towards the first race of the season in Australia next weekend.
“Today is the first of two promotional events, so while the drivers will be able to get a feel for the car, they won’t be able to draw any real conclusions until we start running in anger in Melbourne. Nevertheless, this is an important day for us and we’ll enjoy every minute on track with the new car.”
The team said the MR01 is the result of a ground-up re-evaluation of the way it designs its racing cars after having used only CFD technology for its previous challengers.
The Cosworth-powered car has been designed by a team lead by technical consultant Pat Symonds.
The car, however, is yet to pass the official FIA crash test it failed last week, with Symonds saying it has only passed an ‘unobserved’ one.
The car will be driven by Timo Glock and Charles Pic.
The new HRT F112 completed its first laps at the Barcelona circuit on Monday ahead of its grand prix debut in Australia in less than two weeks.
The Spanish squad took advantage of the filming day regulations in order to shake down its new car after having been unable to get the car ready in time for the Barcelona test last week.
The car will be driven by Pedro De La Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan.