The Marussia team will run only one car at the inaugural Russian Grand Prix this weekend as a sign of respect for injured driver Jules Bianchi.
Bianchi suffered a severe head injury at last Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix and remains in critical condition. “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 (of Max Chilton) is the appropriate course of action under the difficult circumstances of the weekend,” Marussia said in a statement.
In the meantime, speaking to local newspaper Nice Matin in France, Bianchi’s father Philippe said his son remains critical.“There was no noteworthy change (in his condition),” Bianchi said. “Jules is fighting as he always did, the same way as if he was racing.”To honor Bianchi, Marussia said his car will remain in the team’s garage in Sochi.
“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,” a statement from the team read.Since the Frenchman’s crash, there has been an outpouring of sympathy and support. In Sochi, his colleagues are wearing helmet stickers in support.
“I don’t know how to put into words how truly devastated I am by what has happened to Jules,” said Chilton, Bianchi’s teammate. “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.”
“I’m not sure it was a race incident,” said Bianchi’s father, who refuses to see images of the crash. “To me it looks more like a traffic accident. Depending on what will happen next, I’ll certainly have things to say later.”