• Force India news

Bianchi apologises for shunt as Force India calls it a day

Jules Bianchi spun in the morning on Thursday © Sutton Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• Drivers:
• Jules Bianchi

• Teams:
• Racing Point

Jules Bianchi has apologised to Force India for damaging the VJM05 during testing on Thursday morning, putting an early end to the team's third day at Jerez.

On just his second lap of the day, Bianchi lost the rear of the car and ended up skipping across the gravel and into the tyres. The impact was not heavy, Bianchi estimated 10 km/h, but due to a lack of parts the all-new VJM05 could not be repaired for the afternoon when race driver Nico Hulkenberg was scheduled to drive.

"It was just a small mistake from my side," Bianchi told ESPNF1. "Some wheelspin with cold tyres and I went into the gravel and touched a little bit the rear wheel and damaged the car a bit. I'm very sorry for the team because it's had to do a lot of work for a small mistake. I'm really sorry about that."

After a problem-free morning in the car on Wednesday, Bianchi said his Force India debut had been encouraging on the whole.

"Obviously today it was difficult, but yesterday was really positive," he said. "I've been working really hard with the team and the first two days have been really good for the team. We saw a lot of things and it was really positive."

Bianchi will race in Formula Renault 3.5 this year as well as taking part in nine Friday practice sessions with Force India. After two years in the GP2 Series, he said the shift to the World Series by Renault was due to conflicts with the F1 calendar.

"We will have Formula One on Friday morning and with GP2 [it would clash too much], so I think the best option is to do World Series."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.