Mid-season review, Marussia and HRT

Both teams debuted in 2010, but neither has made significant progress since then. 2012 looked set to change, but numerous delays and problems meant that they have failed to close the gap on the midfield pack. 

(c) Octane Photographic

HRT started 2012 in a rush, no change there, while Marussia were slightly more organised. The Spanish team brought in experienced drivers to help push the team forward and made big changes to how they operate, like moving factories. Marussia have had a tough year, with the incident involving Maria and some delays pre-season meaning they missed the first test. Here is my review of their seasons so far, at the mid-way point. Plus, each driver will be reviewed and given a grading for their performance, as will the teams.  

Marussia
Grade: D+
Marussia started the season on the back foot, after missing the opportunity to test the MR-01 pre-season, due to it failing the mandatory crash tests.. They did manage to turn up to the first Barcelona test and run the 2011 car, but it was not the start they wanted. The car started off in Australia being around 1.5 seconds - 2 seconds off the pace of rivals Caterham. Both drivers managed to finish the first 3 races, a good achievement for the team. The MR-01's key rival was the HRT car, but the Banbury based squad always seemed to be a step ahead of the rest. By the European season, the team had closed to within 1 second of the Caterham. However, moving on the Canada, the teams confidence was low after 3 non-finishes for Charles Pic. The team worked hard and commendably managed to increase the reliability of the car by the time F1 went off the the summer break.

Marussia have had the most dramatic season of their short F1 career so far. They announced their test driver line up of Maria de Villota early in the year. However, on her first assignment for the team, Maria was involved in an incident which unfortunately caused her to lose her right eye. The incident happened on a straight line test and effected the team greatly. Going into the summer break, the team are picking themselves up and dusting themselves off as Maria's health continues to improve.

Driver reviews:
Timo Glock: 2012 was Glock's 3rd year with the team and he was determined to push forward and improve the team and their performance. Looking at his own performances, they have been steady rather than outstanding. Many expected him to out qualify and race his team mate hands down, but Glock has been out qualified by his rookie team mate 5 times. Glock benefited from retirements to finish 14th in Australia and Monaco, his best result this season. However developments with the car have caused Glock to feel happier with the machinery and the team.

Grade: D-

Charles Pic: A Formula 1 driver's debut season is very important, as it can determine whether they can return for a 2nd year. Marussia have been notoriously harsh on their 2nd drivers, with 2010 driver Lucas Di Grassi and 2011 racer Jerome D'Ambrosio having both lost their seats after 1 year. Both of the above failed to challenge Glock, but Pic has. Charles has out qualified his much more experienced team mate 5 times but has been rued with bad reliability. A stand out race for him has been Valencia, after he finished 15th. He finished ahead of Felipe Massa's Ferrari, who did have problems, but also finished on the same lap as both Caterham cars. It has been a good first half of the season for Pic.

Grade: C-

JLF1 View: Pic has done a good job, he needs to keep being consistent. Glock has to perform better in qualifying, a few of his laps this year have been ruined by mistakes or problems when he should of been closer to the Caterham's. As a team? Keep on progressing.

Your View: Ailish Clarke @AilishCatherine "They've done a fantastic job so far this season. Flying high above HRT and slowly but surely catching up to Caterham. Both drivers have put in solid performances for the team and have developed a strong relationship within the team."

HRT

Grade: E
HRT, not to be confused with Hormone replacement therapy, started the season like any other. Unprepared. The F112 car first hit the track on the 5th of March, at the cars launch. Like Marussia, they had planned to test the car but it failed crash tests and had to be modified. Duly, the car failed to qualify for the first race in Australia. It came as no surprise due to how their winter panned out. Drivers Pedro De La Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan were drafted in for their experience, rather than pace. In Malaysia both cars finished, but both were given penalties for seperate incidents.

The term "mobile chicane" started to be used as F1 approached the European season. Both drivers, but particularly Karthikeyan, were awful at getting lapped and blocked leading drivers on a number of occasions. So far Karthikeyan has given the team their best result of 15th in Monaco, but Marussia have two 15th place finishes under their belt. This means that HRT currently languish in 12th and last place in the constructors.

The one positive to take away from the first half of 2012 is the fact that they are trying. It may not look like it on track, but HRT made a huge push to re-locate their factory to Madrid. This will only benefit them in the future, but can they ever be anything but a joke?

Driver reviews:
Pedro De La Rosa: There is no doubt that Pedro has pace and is the strong driver in comparison to Karthikeyan, but can he ever be anything but a good test driver? Lets also be honest on one thing, a race is one big test session for HRT. A test to see if they will finish, whether it will be last or not (less likely). De La Rosa has helped the team massively and the progression is starting. However, he has not got the best finish for the team due to retirements in races with high attrition. One thing is for certain, that 11-0 qualifying advantage on his team mate is no fluke.

Grade: D-

Narain Karthikeyan: This is the definition of "pay driver" if there ever was one. Not in the respects of Karthikeyan being payed millions, but for him to be drafted in with huge sponsorship deals. Narain has also been nothing more than "Ok" in the races and even worse in qualifying. 11 times out of 11 is the Stat that will be ringing in his ear as he goes into the Summer break. The average deficit to his team mate in qualifying is 7 tenths of a second, do why is that? Could the car not suit his driving style? Or, does he just not have the talent? I, for one, think it is the latter. His fluke 15th in Monaco was due to the high attrition so is not a real representation of the cars pace. Its fair to say, the F112 is bottom of the pile. 

Grade: E+

JLF1 View: Stand yourself up, dust yourself down and get a bloody move on. Nuff said.
Your view: James Parker @F1Jp044 "Terrible if im honest! They lack any amibition, if they want to progress they need direction, something that is not there now."