Eight Drivers Avoid Penalty After DRS Activation
Eight drivers including the Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel have avoided a penalty after allegedly activating the DRS device during a yellow flag zone shortly after the incident between Esteban Gutierrez and Adrian Sutil. Due to ongoing technical glitches with the marshaling system, race control could not govern the activation of the device.
Usually throughout a Grand Prix weekend race control has complete jurisdiction over the usage of the DRS overtaking device, preventing drivers accidentally activating the device whilst not within a second of the car in front or not within the activation zone. However, throughout the opening three races of the season technical glitches have continued to plague the electronic marshaling system. This therefore prevents the lights corresponding to the red, yellow and blue flags from working within the cockpit, as well as the safety car mode being automatically engaged should it be deployed.
Probably the most troublesome issue with the ongoing technical glitch is the inability for race control to remain in command of the activation of the DRS device. Due to this issue, the DRS device can theoretically be activated at any stage of the race by the drivers. After the collision between Esteban Gutierrez and Adrian Sutil at Turn 14, the DRS activation zone down the back straight was disabled as the marshals cleared away the stricken Sauber. Unfortunately, race control were unable to fully disable the device and therefore Jenson Button, Romain Grosjean, Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber, Kimi Raikkonen, Valtteri Bottas, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Chilton were all put under investigation for allegedly activating the device throughout the yellow flag zone.
However, after being called up to the race stewards after the race, it was eventually decided that no penalty was to be issued to any of the drivers in question. This decision came about due to three facts regarding the activation, namely that the display of yellow flags failed to appear on the official messaging system until a minute after the incident, the DRS disable function was not fully operational and that the DRS usage was on the main straight where a green light was displayed.
If the race stewards had decided to impose timed penalties to the drivers in question, the official classification of the race could well have looked much different with Lewis Hamilton likely to have finished ahead of Kimi Raikkonen. Luckily, however, the classification was not altered and the drivers were able to retain their finishing positions.
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Kimi Raikkonen Wanted To Change Front Wing
Kimi Raikkonen has disclosed that he wanted to change his front wing during the Chinese Grand Prix, after his minor incident with the McLaren of Sergio Perez at Turn 6. In his attempt to keep the Finn at bay, Perez practically barged Raikkonen onto the grass through Turn 5 which resulted in the altercation between the two.
Luckily the collision between the two was not as ferocious as the one between Esteban Gutierrez and Adrian Sutil earlier in the race, however minor damage was caused to Kimi Raikkonen’s nose cone during the incident. The damage was clearly noticeable throughout the remainder of the race, however Lotus elected not to change the front wing as the car continued to handle well. However, the 2007 World Champion has confirmed that he initially wanted the team to change the wing, despite the Finn’s ability to still overtake other competitors.
“Second wasn’t quite what we wanted, but in the circumstances it was the best that we could manage today.” Explained Kimi Raikkonen, “I’m not 100% happy because we didn’t win, but it is what it is and second place is a good result after a bad start and the incident with Sergio [Perez]. Of course there were some handling issues which was not ideal, but we just had to try to live with it and we still had pretty okay speed. Actually I wanted to change it [the front wing] and wasn’t sure if they changed it. I think they looked at the wing at the first pit stop but they probably thought that it would take too long. The reason why they probably didn’t change it was that the car was reasonably OK, I could still overtake people.”
After securing a superlative victory at the opening race of the season in Australia, finishing 7th in Malaysia and 2nd at this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, Kimi Raikkonen now sits only three points behind Championship leader Sebastian Vettel and six ahead of Fernando Alonso. This result was the Finn’s 20th consecutive points finish, and should he continue to display this tremendous consistency throughout the season, he will surely remain a Championship contender.
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Fernando Alonso Believes Luck Will Determine Eventual Champion
Fernando Alonso has explained how he believes luck will become a major factor in who is eventually crowned Champion at the end of the season, with tyre intervention in particular already dictating the proceedings throughout the first three races. Fernando Alonso believes no driver currently has a clear advantage at the front.
Despite a strong display of pace during the opening race weekend of the season at Australia, which saw Fernando Alonso finish strong 2nd behind the Lotus of Kimi Raikkonen, the Spaniard crashed out of the Malaysian Grand Prix after sustaining damage to his front wing. Although the two-time World Champion bounced back in tremendous form this weekend in China, he believes that it is that sort of bad luck which could eventually determine the Champion at the end of the season.
So far three different drivers and teams have won the first three races of the season, in similar fashion to last season. Although this season is not expected to match last year’s record-breaking seven different winners out of the first seven races, the 2013 season is already proving to be an unpredictable affair at the front. At each of the first three races, bad luck has been hovering over the proceedings, striking the likes of Nico Rosberg, Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber. According to Fernando Alonso, this could be the trend of the season which so far has seen no-one enjoy a clear advantage at each race weekend.
“I don’t see anyone has a clear advantage.” Explained Fernando Alonso, after securing victory at the Chinese Grand Prix. “Maybe Red Bull was very dominant in Australia in all free practices; in qualifying and the race they were suffering a little bit of degradation but definitely very fast. In Malaysia, they were maybe a little bit more in the groove but here [China] they were similar to the others so let’s wait and see what the updates of every car brings to the pace, and we will see how luck plays. It happened to Nico [Rosberg] in Australia where he didn’t finish with car problems, it happened to us in Malaysia. The same with Webber, who had the problem with the tyre today and didn’t finish. This can happen to anyone and this will also dictate who are contenders as well, so the luck factor is there.”
After securing a rather dominant race victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, despite initial confusion caused by the Pirelli P Zero tyre range, Fernando Alonso is confident of another podium finish next time out at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The Spaniard has acknowledged the fact that the race will once again be a tough affair, however he has full confidence that the team will once again be a competitive force around the Sakhir International Circuit.
“I expect a tough race again.” Continued Fernando Alonso, “In Bahrain I think we will see different conditions and who knows how competitive anyone can be. But definitely, as I said before, from the races that we finished this year the car seems to be able to be on the podium, so we hope to be on the podium again in Bahrain.”
Fernando Alonso has already taken three victories at Bahrain in his long and successful career in the sport, including back-to-back victories in 2005 and 2006 when he was crowned Champion with Renault. The Spaniard is unquestionably one of the most complete drivers on the grid, however will luck favor him in the races to come?
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Mark Webber Handed Three-Place Grid Penalty For Bahrain
Mark Webber has been handed a three-place grid penalty for the Bahrain Grand Prix, after the Australian driver collided with the Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne. The collision between the sister outfits saw both pit for repairs, however Mark Webber was eventually forced to retire after his right-rear wheel feel off after his stop.
After the controversial proceedings during the closing stages of the Malaysian Grand Prix, further bad luck plagued the Australian driver throughout the Chinese Grand Prix weekend. During qualifying he was forced to stop at the side of the track after a bowser issue saw him run out of fuel, which in turn saw him excluded from the results of qualifying. After electing to start from the pit-lane and pitting on the first lap to avoid excess usage of the soft tyre compound, Webber had worked his way up to 11th position by Lap 14.
Mark Webber’s rogue wheel after his retirement at China.
Shortly after his team-mates first pit stop of the race, Mark Webber collided with the Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne at Turn 6. This saw the Australian driver sustain damage to his front wing, as he returned to the pits for repairs. During this pit stop, his right-rear tyre was not secured properly which in turn saw it fall off at Turn 14. The wheel ominously rolled across the track and in front of numerous cars including Sebastian Vettel, however luckily no-one struck the tyre. The incident between the two drivers was naturally investigated by the stewards, with the Australian driver deemed to be at fault and issued with a grid penalty for the Bahrain Grand Prix next weekend.
Mark Webber will understandably be eager to forget his demons of the last two race weekends next time out at Bahrain, as rumors continue to circulate the world of motor sport pertaining to his future in the sport. The Australian driver could well have picked up a decent amount of points during the race, however the collision with Vergne was the catalyst for yet more bad luck.
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Esteban Gutierrez Receives Five-Place Grid Penalty For Bahrain
Mexican rookie Esteban Gutierrez has been issued with a five-place grid penalty for the Bahrain Grand Prix next weekend, after the 21-year-old slammed into the rear of Adrian Sutil at Turn 14 and forced both into retirement. Esteban Gutierrez has taken full responsibility for the incident, after admitting to misjudging his braking for Turn 14.
After initially qualifying a lowly 18th for his third Grand Prix, the rookie had worked his way up to 11th position by Lap 4 when the incident occurred. As he stormed down the exceptionally long back straight at the Shanghai International Circuit, Esteban Gutierrez explained that he simply misjudged the loss of downforce on his car whilst fighting for position with fellow countryman Sergio Perez. The ensuing carnage saw Gutierrez slam violently into the rear of Adrian Sutil’s Force India, ending both of their races.
“First of all, I had a good start, and a good first lap.” Explained Esteban Gutierrez, “At that point in the race when the accident happened, we had a reasonable speed and were able to keep the pace in order to stay with the group in front. Right before going into the long straight I had Checo [Perez] fighting behind me, and I approached the corner too fast. I was braking at the same place where I usually brake, however, didn’t anticipate the loss of downforce and the amount of speed I had. I tried my best to stop, but didn’t succeed. It was definitely my fault, and I apologize to Adrian [Sutil] and to his team.”
Naturally the race stewards decided to investigate the collision between Esteban Gutierrez and Adrian Sutil, eventually concluding after the race that the Mexican driver was at fault and worthy of a five-place grid penalty next weekend in Bahrain. Looking back at Gutierrez’s poor qualifying performances so far, this will more than likely see the rookie start the Bahrain Grand Prix alongside the Caterhams and Marussias.
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Fernando Alonso Secures Victory In Tyre Dominated Chinese Grand Prix
Fernando Alonso has stormed to a sensational race victory in a Chinese Grand Prix utterly dominated by Pirelli’s P Zero tyres, which also saw a mesmerizing nine lead changes. The Spaniard was followed home by the Lotus of Kimi Raikkonen, with Lewis Hamilton only just holding on for 3rd ahead of Sebastian Vettel.
At the start the Ferrari duo of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa stormed into 2nd and 3rd position respectively, as Kimi Raikkonen fell through the order to 4th through the opening three corners. Lewis Hamilton retained the lead at the front, as the field tightly negotiated the opening lap of the race. Towards the end of the opening lap, the Force India duo collided as Adrian Sutil barged team-mate Paul di Resta onto the grass at Turn 15.
The Ferrari duo rob Lewis Hamilton of the lead.
By Lap 3, the DRS device was activated allowing the various drivers within one second of the car in front to utilize to overtaking assist. This greatly assisted the Ferrari duo of Alonso and Massa, who instantly pounced around Lewis Hamilton to progress to 1st and 2nd. Sauber rookie Esteban Gutierrez’s race was short-lived, after the Mexican driver was woefully late on the brakes into Turn 14 and slammed into the rear of the Force India of Adrian Sutil. The two were forced into retirement, as Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg pitted together on Lap 6.
Eventually Fernando Alonso pitted on Lap 7 along with the Lotus of Kimi Raikkonen, thus handing the lead down to team-mate Felipe Massa. However, the Brazilian driver remained out on the track for too long on the soft tyre compound, and rejoined further down the order after his pit stop on Lap 8. This saw the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg assume the lead of the race, the first time he had led for the Swiss outfit this season. After falling through the order due to his first pit stop, Fernando Alonso gradually began to rise through the order to 4th by Lap 14.
After electing to start the race on the medium tyre compound, Nico Hulkenberg and Sebastian Vettel were one of the last of the front runners to pit on Lap 15. The Sauber mechanics failed to produce a pit stop to match Red Bull, as Vettel leapfrogged his fellow countryman during the stop. Meanwhile the McLaren of Jenson Button assumed the lead, after he too elected to start the race on the medium tyre compound. Sebastian Vettel rejoined the race behind his team-mate of Mark Webber, who had started the race in the pits after his exclusion from qualifying.
Mark Webber’s race weekend went from bad to worse on Lap 15, as the Australian driver collided with Jean-Eric Vergne in the Toro Rosso at Turn 6. The saw Webber suffer a damaged front wing, and forced both he and Vergne to pit after sustaining damage. Whereas Jean-Eric Vergne pitted and rejoined without incident, Mark Webber immediately slowed after his pit-stop with the right-rear tyre loose on his car. After crawling at a snails pace for the majority of the lap, the Australian’s right-rear tyre eventually flew off of his car as he negotiated Turn 14.
Sergio Perez and Kimi Raikkonen then came together at Turn 6 a lap later, with the Finn sustaining light damage to his front nose. However, Lotus elected not to pit Raikkonen as he continued with visible damage on his car. As much confusion ensued throughout the order, Fernando Alonso caught and overtook Jenson Button for the lead of the race on Lap 21. A lap later Raikkonen and Hamilton pitted together, with the duo now battling for the final podium places. Whereas one Mercedes driver was battling towards the front, the other of Nico Rosberg was forced into a frustrating retirement on Lap 23 with a suspension issue.
Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button pitted on Lap 24, allowing Sebastian Vettel to take the lead of the race for the first time. With Gutierrez and Sutil’s incident earlier in the race occurring in a DRS zone, the device was disabled as the marshals cleared the stricken machines. This saw almost half of the field come under investigation by the stewards for allegedly using the device during the yellow flag zone, including Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber, Kimi Raikkonen, Jenson Button, Valtteri Bottas, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Chilton.
After once again dropping through the order after his second pit stop, Fernando Alonso slowly progressed back through the order. Firstly he overtook Nico Hulkenberg for 2nd before storming around Sebastian Vettel for the lead. Throughout the next few laps both Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton pitted for a second time. Fernando Alonso looked uncatchable out in front, and eventually pitted for a third and final time on Lap 41. The Spaniard only momentarily lost the lead to Vettel, and managed to retake it several laps later.
Jenson Button’s gamble of a two-stop strategy failed to pay off, as he began to plummet through the order from 3rd to 5th as both Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton simply breezed around the Briton. The McLaren driver eventually pitted on Lap 50 for the soft tyre compound, which last for only a lap and a half before they began to wear out. Sebastian Vettel became the last of the front runners to pit on Lap 51, as he too switched to the soft tyres.
Unlike Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel managed to make the pace of the soft compound last much longer. As Fernando Alonso simply cruised to his 31st career victory, Vettel began to seriously catch Lewis Hamilton for 3rd. The reigning Champion was a mesmerizing three seconds a lap quicker on the soft tyres, but failed to find a way around the Briton in a frenetic end to a tyre dominated race. Kimi Raikkonen ended the race 2nd, his 20th consecutive race finish in the points.
The Chinese Grand Prix may well have disappointed the purist of Formula 1 fans after being dominated by Pirelli’s tyres and the DRS overtaking device, however it is unquestionable that they combined to create one of the most exciting and memorable races around the Shanghai International Circuit. The excitement is sure to continue next weekend, when the sport reconvenes at Sakhir for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
PROVISIONAL RACE RESULTS The Chinese Grand Prix Shanghai, China; 56 laps; 305.066km; Weather: Dry. Classified: Pos Driver Team Time 1. Alonso Ferrari 1h36:26.945 2. Raikkonen Lotus-Renault + 10.100s 3. Hamilton Mercedes + 12.300s 4. Vettel Red Bull-Renault + 12.500s 5. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 35.200s 6. Massa Ferrari + 40.800s 7. Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 42.600s 8. Di Resta Force India-Mercedes + 51.000s 9. Grosjean Lotus-Renault + 53.400s 10. Hulkenberg Sauber-Ferrari + 56.500s 11. Perez McLaren-Mercedes + 1m03.800s 12. Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1m12.600s 13. Maldonado Williams-Renault + 1m33.800s 14. Bottas Williams-Renault + 1m35.400s 15. Bianchi Marussia-Cosworth + 1 lap 16. Pic Caterham-Renault + 1 lap 17. Chilton Marussia-Cosworth + 1 lap 18. van der Garde Caterham-Renault + 1 lap Fastest lap: Vettel, 1m36.808s Not classified/retirements: Driver Team On lap Rosberg Mercedes 22 Webber Red Bull-Renault 16 Sutil Force India-Mercedes 6 Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 5
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Mark Webber Elects For Pit-Lane Start
Mark Webber and Red Bull have elected to start the 56-lap Chinese Grand Prix from the pit-lane, after the Australian driver was excluded from the results of qualifying and relegated to the back of the grid. This came after the Red Bull driver stopped during the session after running out of fuel, and failed to produce the mandatory fuel sample.
This decision has allowed the team to carry out gearbox and set-up alterations ahead of the race, which are usually prohibited during parc ferme conditions between qualifying and the race. Starting from the pit-lane will also act as a benefit for Mark Webber should any first corner incidents arise towards the back of the pack, with the Australian ace initially set to start the race within the vicinity of the Caterham and Marussia duo.
In a race set to be dominated by tyre degradation and preservation, Mark Webber has the ability to climb his way back through the order. With a brand-new gearbox, which includes altered gear ratios for improved straight-line speed, and the ability to choose which tyre he starts the race on, Mark Webber could scythe his way through the pack. Further up the order, the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen will be forced to start the race on the soft tyre compound, unlike the Red Bull duo who have complete freedom over their decisions.
During last season, both Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel were struck with the same misfortune after running out of fuel during qualifying. Whereas Lewis Hamilton managed to finish 8th after deciding to start 24th at the Spanish Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel rose tremendously through the order to 3rd after electing to start from the pits. Mark Webber’s race is certainly not already over, in a race which could yet yield a topsy-turvy result.
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Ferrari Aiming For A Double Podium Finish During The Race
Ferrari are aiming for a double podium finish during tomorrow’s Chinese Grand Prix, after a competitive qualifying performance which will see Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa start tomorrow’s race from 3rd and 5th respectively. Both drivers have been quick this weekend, and therefore will be aiming for a decent result during the 56-lap race.
After several highly uncompetitive seasons in Formula 1, Brazilian driver Felipe Massa has finally returned to his competitive ways this year. Last season rumors began to surface of Felipe Massa leaving the Ferrari outfit for 2013, however the Scuderia elected to retain the 31-year-old alongside Fernando Alonso. So far that decision seems to have paid off, with Felipe Massa scoring points in the first two races, including a front-row start last time out in Malaysia.
This weekend in China Ferrari look exceptionally competitive, in stark contrast to Red Bull who seem to have lost their dominant pace which was on show last time out at Malaysia. Many have predicted Ferrari for victory this weekend, and both Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa are eager deliver the expected results. With the race expected to be based solely around tyre preservation, Ferrari are confident they can finish with both cars on the podium after tomorrow’s race.
“I think the weekend has been very good for us.” Explained Fernando Alonso, “The car felt completely different Friday. This morning we made some changes and the car is responding well and I think we have a good set-up for the race as well, which is more important than qualifying always and I think tomorrow if everything goes well we should be able to fight for the podium, hopefully with both cars, so this is good news so far for the team.”
Many of the teams and drivers up and down the order are wary of the Pirelli tyres during the race, with degradation levels once again worryingly high for some teams in particular. However, Ferrari are confident ahead of the race after not suffering from any issues with the Pirelli tyres so far this weekend. Despite qualifying on pole, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes could well be struck with severe degradation which could in turn benefit Ferrari.
“We have no big issues with any of the tyres to be honest.” Continued Fernando Alonso, “Obviously the soft, they degrade much more and they will last not too long but in the long runs we did nothing that was surprising us, let’s say. Hopefully we can have a good race, a clean race and be on the podium at the end of 56 laps.”
So far this season Fernando Alonso has been matched by Felipe Massa at Ferrari, with the Brazilian driver out-shining his team-mate at the Malaysian Grand Prix in particular. However, Fernando Alonso will undoubtedly be striving to remind the paddock who is number one at the Scuderia during the race, which could well see the Prancing Horse rise above the Red Bull.
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Mark Webber Excluded From Qualifying
Mark Webber has been excluded from the qualifying results of the Chinese Grand Prix, after he ran out of fuel during the second segment of qualifying. Despite his exclusion from proceedings, Mark Webber has been permitted to start from the back of the grid.
After the controversial conclusion to the Malaysian Grand Prix last time out, in which Mark Webber was robbed of victory by Sebastian Vettel who elected to disobey team orders, the Australian ace has been dealt another bout of extremely bad luck. During the second segment of qualifying for tomorrow’s 56-lap Chinese Grand Prix, Mark Webber parked his Red Bull RB9 at the side of the track after running out of fuel.
This has therefore seen the 36-year-old driver struck with the same penalty as Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel last season, with Mark Webber excluded from the results of qualifying in accordance with Article 6.6.2 of the sport’s technical regulations. This means he will start tomorrow’s race from the back of the grid, after his car was unable to provide the mandatory one litre of fuel sample and return back to the pits under its own power.
“The Competitor is excluded from the results of the Qualifying Session.” Read the official statement from the race stewards, headed by former F1 driver Mark Blundell. “The competitor is however allowed to start the race from the back of the grid. The team admitted it had not put sufficient fuel in the car. As specified in the Technical Delegate’s report, only 150ml of fuel was on board which was insufficient to provide the 1 litre fuel sample and drive the car back to the pits under its own power.”
This concludes a highly uncompetitive qualifying session for the reigning Constructors’ Champions, after Sebastian Vettel qualified a lowly 9th position on the grid after electing not to complete a timed lap during the top ten shootout. However, with both Red Bull drivers now able to decide which tyre compound to start the race on, they could well claw their way up through the order during tomorrow’s 56-lap race which is expected to once again be dominated by the Pirelli rubber.
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Continued Woes Plague Caterham During Qualifying
Caterham were plagued with continued woes during qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix, as the outfit struggled to understand the tricky Pirelli tyres. Despite minor improvements for Charles Pic during practice three, it was back to square one and a difficult car during the all-important qualifying session.
Although Caterham ended last season ahead of Marussia in the Constructors’ Championship, the Leafield-based outfit have endured a frustratingly tough start to the new season. During the first two races at Australia and Malaysia, Marussia visibly out-shone the outfit with Jules Bianchi in particular impressing many during his firs two races in the sport. At each of the opening two races, a Caterham driver has qualified 22nd and last on the grid.
Caterham’s initial plan was to utilize the three practice sessions of the weekend in search of performance gains after their dismal start to the season, however the outfit struggled greatly with Pirelli’s P Zero tyres and failed to find any improvements. Although Charles Pic managed to find a minor improvement in the balance of the car during practice three, the tyre behavior changed once again during qualifying and saw the Frenchman struggle.
“We’ve had quite a few issues all weekend and they’ve hurt our ability to get the most out of the car here, particularly with the tyres.” Explained a disheartened Charles Pic, “We tried a couple of different setup options in FP3 and the car balance felt better this morning than it had yesterday but between FP3 and qualifying the tyre behavior changed again and we really couldn’t get them to work. In qualifying we did both runs on the soft tyres but I had traffic on my first run which meant I didn’t have a clean lap. On the second run I improved my time but I still had oversteer on the exits of most of the corners and more traffic in both sectors one and two which basically ruined that lap.”
Giedo van der Garde will once again start the race from the back of the grid, after also struggling with the tyres throughout the weekend. The Dutchman’s progress was hindered slightly after a mistake through Turn 2, after he pushed too hard into the corner and lost valuable time. Giedo van der Garde is adamant he could have qualified better had the mistake not occurred, in what has been another dreadful weekend for the Leafield-based outfit.
“After two productive sessions yesterday I just couldn’t get the same feeling from the car in FP3 and that carried over into qualifying.” Said Giedo van der Garde, “Like Charles, I’ve had quite a few small problems in each session and together they’ve held us back quite a bit. We’re struggling to understand the tyre behavior here and when the track temps went up today it was like having to start again with our understanding of how to get them working. My final position in quali is obviously disappointing, particularly as I made a mistake in turn two on my second run, pushing too hard into the corner and that cost me about four tenths. Without that I’d have finished a bit higher up the grid.”
Marussia clearly have the upper hand over Caterham this weekend, as the two outfits battle for the coveted 10th place in the Constructors’ Championship. So far Marussia have greatly improved over the winter period, whereas Caterham have taken several steps back. With rumors of Heikki Kovalainen returning in Bahrain to test the team’s updates next weekend, the duo will be eager to prove their worthiness within the outfit.
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