Marussia has become the 10th team to reveal its 2014 car, after the MR03 broke cover at Jerez.
The car has already had a troubled start after a problem meant its launch, planned for Tuesday morning prior to the start of testing, was delayed. Max Chilton and Jules Bianchi remain at the team for a second season.
The team found a problem with the Ferrari-powered machine and decided to keep it at the Banbury-based outfit's factory, where it was then fixed and sent on its way to southern Spain.
It arrived in Jerez on Wednesday afternoon, before the team's mechanics and engineers got to work preparing the car for its debut on Thursday.
The highly-anticipated penultimate car reveal of 2014 took place two hours before the end of the third day of testing, with Max Chilton driving the MR03 out of the garage to complete the car's first installation lap.
It proved to be a successful launch and he returned shortly after, before then completing a second lap shortly after. The car itself features a similar livery to 2013 and the controversial 'finger' style nose.
However, their approach is similar to that of the Red Bull Racing with a shorter nose tip. It has been painted black, which makes the car look visually more appealing.
Talking about the aims for the season, team principal John Booth said: "We have to temper the fact that there are a great many unknowns this season with the fact that we are, by nature, a highly ambitious team that is always demanding more of itself. The target is to keep moving forward and that means being in a position where we no longer have to focus on the threat from behind and, instead, take the fight to the teams ahead.
"It is very early days to be speculating about relative performance though and that is something we can perhaps only speak with confidence about in Australia in 45 days’ time."
2014 is the first year for the team with Ferrari power. Discussing the early stages of the team's partnership, he added: "We have nothing but good things to say about our new relationship with Scuderia Ferrari. They are extremely professional and have been entirely supportive from the beginning.
"There is excellent co-operation between our two technical groups in all areas of the new relationship and this has made the considerable challenge of integrating a new powertrain a great deal easier."
Chief designer John McQuilliam commented on the design of the car. "Through the course of 2012, we analysed every single element of the car – from the tip of the nose to the trailing edge of the rear wing – knowing just how radically different the MR03 would be under such sweeping Technical Regulations," he said.
"We have benefited enormously from the stability of our design teams, with the same personnel beginning – and now concluding – the process over a 24 month period. I think we can feel justifiably proud of the way we have responded to such a significant challenge and the quality of car we have arrived at with the MR03.
"The car has been manufactured and finished to a very high standard, whilst achieving our most significant weight-saving targets to date and with a crucial eye towards maintaining our excellent record of reliability."
He added: "Without doubt, the greatest design challenge has been in terms of cooling, yet this is one of a few areas where we are not only very pleased with the design response, but also the degree of innovation we have achieved with our solution.
"All-new front and rear suspension layouts are a product of the new aerodynamic regulations placing greater emphasis on mechanical performance, with the mechanical systems now having far greater real road relevance."
For all the 2014 car launches, click here.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
The team found a problem with the Ferrari-powered machine and decided to keep it at the Banbury-based outfit's factory, where it was then fixed and sent on its way to southern Spain.
It arrived in Jerez on Wednesday afternoon, before the team's mechanics and engineers got to work preparing the car for its debut on Thursday.
The highly-anticipated penultimate car reveal of 2014 took place two hours before the end of the third day of testing, with Max Chilton driving the MR03 out of the garage to complete the car's first installation lap.
It proved to be a successful launch and he returned shortly after, before then completing a second lap shortly after. The car itself features a similar livery to 2013 and the controversial 'finger' style nose.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
However, their approach is similar to that of the Red Bull Racing with a shorter nose tip. It has been painted black, which makes the car look visually more appealing.
Talking about the aims for the season, team principal John Booth said: "We have to temper the fact that there are a great many unknowns this season with the fact that we are, by nature, a highly ambitious team that is always demanding more of itself. The target is to keep moving forward and that means being in a position where we no longer have to focus on the threat from behind and, instead, take the fight to the teams ahead.
"It is very early days to be speculating about relative performance though and that is something we can perhaps only speak with confidence about in Australia in 45 days’ time."
2014 is the first year for the team with Ferrari power. Discussing the early stages of the team's partnership, he added: "We have nothing but good things to say about our new relationship with Scuderia Ferrari. They are extremely professional and have been entirely supportive from the beginning.
"There is excellent co-operation between our two technical groups in all areas of the new relationship and this has made the considerable challenge of integrating a new powertrain a great deal easier."
Chief designer John McQuilliam commented on the design of the car. "Through the course of 2012, we analysed every single element of the car – from the tip of the nose to the trailing edge of the rear wing – knowing just how radically different the MR03 would be under such sweeping Technical Regulations," he said.
"We have benefited enormously from the stability of our design teams, with the same personnel beginning – and now concluding – the process over a 24 month period. I think we can feel justifiably proud of the way we have responded to such a significant challenge and the quality of car we have arrived at with the MR03.
"The car has been manufactured and finished to a very high standard, whilst achieving our most significant weight-saving targets to date and with a crucial eye towards maintaining our excellent record of reliability."
He added: "Without doubt, the greatest design challenge has been in terms of cooling, yet this is one of a few areas where we are not only very pleased with the design response, but also the degree of innovation we have achieved with our solution.
"All-new front and rear suspension layouts are a product of the new aerodynamic regulations placing greater emphasis on mechanical performance, with the mechanical systems now having far greater real road relevance."
For all the 2014 car launches, click here.
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