Manor (formerly Marussia)

Virgin

FIA Entry: Marussia Virgin Racing
Car 24: Timo Glock
Car 25: Jerome d’Ambrosio
Engine: Cosworth V8
Team Principal: John Booth
Technical Director: Nick Wirth
Race Engineer Car 24: Mark Hutchison
Race Engineer Car 25: Dave Greenwood

Stats as of end 2010

First Entered 2010
Races Entered 19
Race Wins 0
Pole Positions 0
Fastest Laps 0
Driver World Championships 0
Constructor World Championships 0

Manor Motorsport

When F3 team Manor Motorsport were given a place on the F1 grid in 2010 they commissioned Wirth Research to build them a car. Brawn sponsor Virgin became title sponsor and Virgin Racing was born

Virgin Racing

With Cosworth engines, Xtrac gearboxes and drivers Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi Virgin Racing embarked on their first F1 season. The VR01 chassis was the first ever F1 designed entirely using CFD, with designer Nick Wirth believing computer simulations were sufficient to not need expensive wind tunnel testing.

Inevitably the team had reliability issues early on and they also discovered the fuel tank on the car wasn't sufficiently large enough to allow the team to complete full race distance. Wirth Research got a dispensation from the FIA to homologate a new chassis and by Spain both cars finished the race.

The team regularly finished races but barely troubled the mid-field. By seasons end the team were placed 12th and last in the Constructors Championship based on a count back of minor placing’s having managed a highest finish of 14th.

2011

Russian carmaker Marussia have taken a controlling interest in the team for 2011 and Belgian Jerome d’Ambrosio replaces Lucas di Grassi. With the VR02 chassis Virgin will be hoping to move further up the grid in 2011.

 

[FB]

Anyone think Caterham get paid so help TF recover the debt mountain Bernie and Flav left him at QPR? Let's hope Marussia score a point some time soon, that'll learn him.

 

[RasputinLives]

So Marussia have lost Pat Symonds but gained Ferrari engines, gearboxs and technical data.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula-one/23335006

Bianchi must be feeling fairly safe if he doesn't move up the grid with another team.

Think this can only be good news for the team and might leave Caterham stranded at the back if they are not careful.

 

[GermanF1]

I'm actually amazed that those two teams still are nowhere near scoring points/qualifying above others on merit. I know it's difficult, but let's be honest, they have been promising improvement for ages now. A little embarassing. Even Minardi finished in the points sometimes (And that was when points were only awarded for the top 6 finishers).

 

[KekeTheKing]

Smaller teams have always scored points when the attrition rate is high. The 2013 cars are incredibly reliable.

Marussia and Caterham will both be on for some points next year.

 

[GermanF1]

What makes you say that KekeTheKing? Because you expect poor reliabilty next year? Don't you think that Marussia and Caterham will have very unreliable cars then as well? Even worse than the others?

 

[Jos the Boss]

Ross Brawn says he expects many engine failures next year so they could sneak a point or two

 

[Andyoak]

One of the more frustrating mistakes from the FIA... forcing reliability into the engines.

 

[KekeTheKing]

I believe the 5 engine limit is a main reason why there's bound to be teething issues next year. The units will be pushed beyond their limits. Marussia keeping their car running while others drop out will always be their best bet for points.

 

[Il_leone]

Turbos are a different kettle of fish as fuel consumption and over stressing the cars with the power boost - 5 engines that is a real test of reliability from 8 engines

Marussia and Caterham have not scored points because the midfield battle is a bit closer to the front . There was usually a gap between the front runners and midfielders but more and more midfield teams are upsetting the big boys

Caterham like I said have not shown the same enthusiasm ever since TF had to sell back the Lotus name - it seems to take a bit out of the team

Marussia - they've changed owners as Branson obviously realised its expensive to plump money in and their concept of Nick Wirth using CFD to design the car with no windtunnel did not get the results although a better engineer/ designer could have got more out of it

 

[tonyw151]

One thng i picked up on the Sky pre-qualy show was the fact Marussia have still not got a commerercial agreement with FOM. How much are they missing out on? Ive seen onboard cameras so I assume there is no problems with rights?

 

[RasputinLives]

Marussia are obviously happy with their driver pairing as John Booth says he hopes to have an unchanged drivers line up for next year

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/194060...tm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

Whilst I'm sure Chilton will be pleased with this I'm thinking Bianchi probably has in the back of his mind that he hopes he gets a better offer.

 

[gethinceri]

They should can Chilton when his money runs out and get Quaiffe-Hobbs in, he's got a few quid that a shit team can spunk up the wall too.

 

[RasputinLives]

I'd take Quaiffe-Hobbs over Chilton. He's surprisingly better than his large budget suggests he's going to be. He's like the Pedro Diniz of GP2 right now.

 

[FB]

Quaiffe-Hobbs? Are we back to the days of the gentlemen drivers of the 1950's?

 

[cider_and_toast]

A name like that just has to be in F1

 

[sobriety]

Quaiffe is dangerously close to queef, to be honest. He'd better be bloody quick, but in a marussia, who knows?

 

[gethinceri]

He's one of the engineering Quaiffe dynasty, I believe.

 

[teabagyokel]

I think the loss of Symonds could really damage Marussia's chances.

 

[RasputinLives]

I think becoming Ferrari's b team could really step them up.

 

[Mephistopheles]

I know nothing...