Racing for Jules

(Marussia F1 Team via Twitter)

Following an extremely difficult week for the Marussia Formula One Team, Max Chilton took to the Sochi circuit this afternoon in the sole car as they have decided not to run a second car this weekend following Jules Bianchi's accident at last weekend's Japanese Grand Prix. The Frenchman remains in a 'critical but stable condition' in hospital in Japan.

In today's qualifying for the inaugural Russian Grand Prix, Max Chilton set the 21st fastest time for the Banbury based outfit and will start the race from 20th place on the grid as the Lotus F1 Team's Pastor Maldonado who will start the race from 21st place as a result of a grid penalty.

Speaking following the session, Chilton stated:

'“A tough weekend and one that hasn’t got any easier as we’ve progressed towards the race. I’m grateful for having the whole Team around me as I think that it is helping all of us to focus. Performance-wise, we didn’t get the qualifying position we wanted today, but there are some reasons for that. This morning we experienced a driveshaft problem and missed the latter part of the FP3 session, and therefore the Soft tyre run. 

As this is a new circuit for us, that’s quite a disadvantage going into qualifying. I was fairly happy with the balance and looking at the three free practice sessions as a whole, I think we have done a good job and there is more to come in the race. We’ll keep pushing hard this evening, and do our best to get ahead of the Caterhams tomorrow, but the fact is, it’s not the same without my teammate.'

Marussia F1 Team chief race engineer, Dave Greenwood stated:

'It has been another day of digging deep, in order to focus on the immediate job in hand here in Sochi. Yesterday we made mention of the strength of the Team, but today brought home to us the burden on Max’s shoulders. 

This is a brand new circuit and the first barometer for a driver is always his teammate in equal equipment. Max is flying solo here. We compounded that challenge with a driveshaft problem that caused him to lose a chunk of this morning’s FP3 session, and there’s no doubt that the lost track time and knock-on effect of not being able to run the option tyre have been a factor in our qualifying performance today. So we don’t believe the gap to Caterham in Q1 is particularly a reflection of the true picture, but that’s for us to demonstrate in the race tomorrow. 

The challenge hasn’t become any easier this week, and the race will certainly be tougher still, but hopefully we’ll find strength in the fact that, tomorrow, all of us, including Max, will be racing for Jules.'

The Marussia F1 Team head into tomorrow's race in Sochi in 9th place in the Constructors championship having scored two points when Jules Bianchi scored the outfit's first ever Formula One points in Monte Carlo in May.

© Ben Johnston 2014