• Marussia news

Marussia to follow McLaren lead

ESPNF1 Staff
February 26, 2012 « Massa shrugs off mounting pressure to perform | Rosberg targets race wins in 2012 »
Charles Pic runs the MVR02 during the recent Barcelona test. The 2012 car is set to feature a similarly traditional nose. © Sutton Images
Enlarge

Marussia Racing's 2012 car will buck the trend of the much maligned 'stepped nose' and feature the more classical design adopted by McLaren, according to reports.

Every car on the 2012 grid will feature the aesthetically unappealing front end in accordance with the FIA's new height regulations, with the exception of McLaren and now Marussia, who uses the British team's test rigs and wind tunnel.

"In fact, there was little difference in theory between the two solutions. So why take risks with something that we do not know?" a Marussia team source is quoted as saying.

Marussia was forced to curtail its test programme at the Circuit de Catalunya due to a suspension problem that confined driver Charles Pic to the garage for the whole of Friday. But the team believes that the three days of running beforehand achieved enough to provide positive feedback before the car launch next week.

"Aside from further mileage for Charles there was nothing more to be gained from our programme to aid our development and we now switch focus to the 2012 car, which we are all looking forward to rolling-out next week," commented team principal John Booth.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
ESPN Staff Close