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Formula 1 rookie, Jules Bianchi, is still strongly motivated at Marussia despite the fact that it will be difficult for him to score decent results this season.
Auto123.com met with the young Frenchman in the paddock of the Gilles Villeneuve circuit during the Grand Prix of Canada weekend.
Bianchi, who is part of the Ferrari Driver Development programme, confirmed that he spent last winter genuinely expecting to drive for Force India this season.
“I really believed it,” he told Auto123.com.
“I was almost certain that I was going to be promoted as race driver after having spent last season as their third driver.
“For the past three years, Force India promoted their third driver to a regular drive, [so] I had a very good feeling about it.
“[But] in the end, they picked Adrian Sutil. That's okay with me [as] I guess they felt I was not fully ready for the job. I have no bad feeling towards them.”
Whilst Bianchi looked set for another year on the sidelines following Sutil's promotion to the race seat alongside Paul di Resta, Brazilian Luiz Razia, who had originally been signed by Marussia for 2013, lost his seat with the team on the eve of the new season due to a sponsor not meeting a payment deadline.
With Razia ousted and unable able to race, the vacant Marussia cockpit went to Bianchi.
“I ended up at Marussia and it's fine like this”, he said.
“I have no problem running at the back of the pack and I have no problem whatsoever finding the motivation to race for Marussia, despite the fact that we will not be in a position to score points this year, let's face it.
“[But] I am extremely motivated to do the best I can, even if it's really difficult at times.
“The worst thing that can happen to a driver is to lose his motivation. I'm not saying that I want to spend the rest of my career fighting to 20th place, not at all, [but] I want to do my very best with the equipment I have, and it's the same thing for Marussia.
“They are working extremely hard to give me the best car they can.”
Auto123.com met with the young Frenchman in the paddock of the Gilles Villeneuve circuit during the Grand Prix of Canada weekend.
Bianchi, who is part of the Ferrari Driver Development programme, confirmed that he spent last winter genuinely expecting to drive for Force India this season.
“I really believed it,” he told Auto123.com.
“I was almost certain that I was going to be promoted as race driver after having spent last season as their third driver.
“For the past three years, Force India promoted their third driver to a regular drive, [so] I had a very good feeling about it.
“[But] in the end, they picked Adrian Sutil. That's okay with me [as] I guess they felt I was not fully ready for the job. I have no bad feeling towards them.”
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| Jules Bianchi (Photo: Marussia F1 Team) |
Whilst Bianchi looked set for another year on the sidelines following Sutil's promotion to the race seat alongside Paul di Resta, Brazilian Luiz Razia, who had originally been signed by Marussia for 2013, lost his seat with the team on the eve of the new season due to a sponsor not meeting a payment deadline.
With Razia ousted and unable able to race, the vacant Marussia cockpit went to Bianchi.
“I ended up at Marussia and it's fine like this”, he said.
“I have no problem running at the back of the pack and I have no problem whatsoever finding the motivation to race for Marussia, despite the fact that we will not be in a position to score points this year, let's face it.
“[But] I am extremely motivated to do the best I can, even if it's really difficult at times.
“The worst thing that can happen to a driver is to lose his motivation. I'm not saying that I want to spend the rest of my career fighting to 20th place, not at all, [but] I want to do my very best with the equipment I have, and it's the same thing for Marussia.
“They are working extremely hard to give me the best car they can.”