"I don't know how to put into words how truly devastated I am," says Max Chilton; Jules' car to remain in Marussia garage at Sochi
Friday 10 October 2014 15:40, UK
Marussia will enter just one car for this weekend's Russian GP out of respect for Jules Bianchi following his life-threatening crash at Suzuka on Sunday.
Reserve driver Alexander Rossi had been named alongside Max Chilton on the entry list for the event in Sochi but the team announced shortly before the start of Practice One on Friday morning that they would run just a single car - a request that the FIA promptly accepted.
'The Team feels strongly that fielding a single car, that of driver number 4, Max Chilton, is the appropriate course of action under the difficult circumstances of the weekend,' Marussia declared in a statement.
Speaking later, team boss Graeme Lowdon told reporters: “The people in our team wanted to make an expression of support for Jules. On a personal note, I cannot speak too highly about the support we have had from Bernie Ecclestone. In these situations, it is incredibly reassuring to know that people care. And if I could sum up the support we have had from Bernie it is that he has cared.”
Asked about the ongoing investigation into the circumstances behind the crash, a visibly-emotional Lowdon told Sky F1: "We all want to change the one thing we can't change."
Bianchi remains in a critical but stable condition at the Mie General Medical Centre in Yokkaichi with team boss John Booth still in Japan to offer support to the driver's parents. To poignant effect, Bianchi's car will remain a permanent fixture on his side of the Marussia garage this weekend.
'In support of Jules and his family, the Team and their cars will carry the familiar #JB17 graphic, to ensure that although Jules is not with them in Sochi this weekend, he is, nonetheless, racing on with the Marussia F1 Team,' the statement added.
All drivers and teams are running with messages of support for Bianchi on their crash helmets and cars this weekend, while the Marussia team have prepared Bianchi's car in what would have been the Frenchman's garage in Sochi.
"Just to stress what a significant mark of respect that was from Marussia, they fully prepared Bianchi's car, they even took it to scrutineering. They had it ready for him and prepared his garage as if he was there himself. Then they had to ask special permission to withdraw from the grand prix weekend,” Sky Sports News HQ’s Craig Slater reported.
“The point they are making is they are waiting for Jules, they still consider him their driver and they are saying we are carrying on as normal and we hope as some point you are able to come back and make use of this car again.
"It's a tribute driven by the Bianchi family out in Japan, the team made it clear they would do what the family felt was best this grand prix weekend. Everyone in this paddock fully backs the stance they've taken."
Marussia are ninth in the Constructors' Championship courtesy of the two points Bianchi scored in May's Monaco GP, the first the team have registered in the sport.
Full statement from Marussia
'The Marussia F1 Team will run a single car for the duration of the forthcoming grand prix weekend in Sochi, out of respect for their driver Jules Bianchi, who remains in hospital in Yokkaichi, Japan, in a critical but stable condition.
'The Team have written to the Stewards of the Meeting to inform them that they have withdrawn their second car. Notwithstanding the presence in Sochi of Alexander Rossi, the nominated Official Reserve Driver for the 2014 Russian Grand Prix, the Team feels strongly that fielding a single car, that of driver number 4, Max Chilton, is the appropriate course of action under the difficult circumstances of the weekend.
'Jules' car crew have built a second car, which has been scrutineered and is ready to race, and this will remain on his side of the garage throughout the weekend. In support of Jules and his family, the Team and their cars will carry the familiar #JB17 graphic, to ensure that although Jules is not with them in Sochi this weekend, he is, nonetheless, racing on with the Marussia F1 Team.
'Max Chilton #4
'"I don't know how to put into words how truly devastated I am by what has happened to Jules. The support from the F1 family has been incredible and all we can do is be there to support Jules' family at this difficult time. It is going to be a very emotional weekend for the whole Team, but we will try to get through it and keep praying for Jules."'
