Marussia MR02 launch: First pictures
2013 F1 cars
The Marussia MR02 has been revealed by the team at the dawn of the first day of testing for the 2013 season.
It marks a step forward from last year when they failed to complete their car in time for it to run during pre-season testing.
This is the fourth car produced by the team which entered F1 as Virgin in 2010 and are still seeking their first points finish.
Marussia say their new car is the first they have designed using a wind tunnel as well as CFD. It is also their first car to feature a Kinetic Energy Recovery System.
The team have adopted a Coanda exhaust design as favoured by several teams last year.
“Whilst we have experienced some changes over the winter, the one area of stability we have enjoyed is the one that is most important to our progression from here, the design of our 2013 race car, led by our technical tirector Pat Symonds,” said team principal John Booth.
“We are confident that the MR02 is the product of evolving elements of last year’s package whilst integrating the new KERS system.
“It was said many times during 2012 that, notwithstanding the impressive steps we were taking in other areas of our development, KERS – or the lack of it – was the defining factor in determining our position relative to our immediate competitors.
“KERS was however a ‘strategic omission’ from our package until now; we opted to place the emphasis on aerodynamics, so that when we were in a position to bring the system to the car, we already had the strongest possible basis and its integration would be relatively straightforward.
“Thus far, this has certainly been the case, as our trackside engineering team have spent the winter refining their tools and preparing for the addition of KERS to ensure we can hit the ground running with effect from this week and use the short period of testing we have to get the car optimised for Melbourne.”
-
- Max Chilton helmet, Marussia, 2013
-
- Max Chilton helmet, Marussia, 2013
-
- Max Chilton helmet, Marussia, 2013
-
- Luiz Razia helmet, Marussia, 2013
-
- Luiz Razia helmet, Marussia, 2013
-
- Luiz Razia helmet, Marussia, 2013
-
- Marussia MR02, 2013
-
- Marussia MR02, 2013
-
- Marussia MR02, 2013
-
- Marussia MR02, 2013
-
- Max Chilton, Marussia, Jerez, 2013
-
- Marussia MR02, 2013
-
- Max Chilton, Marussia, Jerez, 2013
-
- Marussia MR02, 2013
-
- Marussia MR02, 2013
2013 F1 season
- Monaco could be Mercedes’ best chance for victory
- 2013 Spanish Grand Prix fans’ video gallery
- Lowe to start work at Mercedes in two weeks’ time
- Ecclestone tips BMW to follow Honda back to F1
- Schumacher drives the Nurburgring Nordschleife
Browse all 2013 F1 season articles
Images © F1 Fanatic | f1fanatic.co.uk
Journeyer (@journeyer) said on 5th February 2013, 7:27
Oh no. Where are the sponsors?
sozavele (@formula-1) said on 5th February 2013, 7:29
We there are a few on the front wing, but no major ones on the main body, apart from the Marussia logo
sozavele (@formula-1) said on 5th February 2013, 7:29
Well there are some on the nose but no major sponsors on the main body apart from the Marussia logo.
GeeMac (@geemac) said on 5th February 2013, 7:33
His name is Max Chilton… :p
BradandCoffee said on 5th February 2013, 8:37
Behind the wheel.
Rafke said on 5th February 2013, 11:22
COTD
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys) said on 5th February 2013, 11:20
@journeyer – The team has said that more sponsor logos will be appearing on the car over the coming weeks.
BasCB (@bascb) said on 5th February 2013, 12:28
no doubt when they sign the contract with their second
backerdriversozavele (@formula-1) said on 5th February 2013, 7:27
So much better. Compared this to last year, last year was basic, to me this shows they have made an effort with the design and worked the colours into it well, I just hope they do better than last year this season.
Aditya Fakhri Yahya (@adityafakhri) said on 5th February 2013, 8:53
they got Pat Symonds on technical side, so it would be interesting to see Marussia’s development. no Timo, sadly.
cubejam (@cubejam) said on 5th February 2013, 11:39
They had Pat Symmonds on board long ago, since the beginning.
matt90 (@matt90) said on 5th February 2013, 11:46
Something about this livery feels very 90′s (or early 00′s). I can’t decide if I like it, or whether it just looks dated.
JB (@catracho504) said on 5th February 2013, 7:28
That is a very low nose!! They´ll struggle with that!!
Rob Wilson (@rob-wilson) said on 5th February 2013, 7:29
I’ve gotta say, livery wise that looks fantastic!
plutoniumhunter (@plutoniumhunter) said on 5th February 2013, 7:29
Very very sleek!
Chris (@tophercheese21) said on 5th February 2013, 7:33
Reminds me of a dolphin.
Tyler (@tdog) said on 5th February 2013, 7:33
Very nice.
Keith, any announcement re drivers?
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys) said on 5th February 2013, 7:41
@tdog – They haven’t confirmed their testing roster for Thursday or Friday, so an announcement could be imminent … or they could just stick Chilton in the car for all four days.
BasCB (@bascb) said on 5th February 2013, 8:35
I saw some hints that Luiz Razia has confirmed he will be driving with them soon. But so far nothing official on that, so lets wait and see.
GeeMac (@geemac) said on 5th February 2013, 7:34
I really, really like the look of that.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys) said on 5th February 2013, 7:34
I actually quite like it. It’s got a nice, distinct shape to it, and it looks quite refined compared to previous cars by the “new” teams. It doesn’t look like it’s going to set the world on fire, but I tihnk it’s ticked all the right boxes – it’s definately something that has been developed over a period of time, rather than thrown together at the last minute.
Mike (@mike) said on 5th February 2013, 12:45
I agree, how fast it is, I’m not that confident about, but at least there is obviously a lot of effort and work put into it, and it’s not just a copy of the top cars. That’s great to see.
Gill (@gill) said on 5th February 2013, 7:35
The engine cover looks like a Samurai sword.
Ambik (@ambikm) said on 5th February 2013, 7:36
Those sidepods can hold two more drivers I guess ! Its huge. How come a wind tunnel model have a larger sidepods than a CFD model ?
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys) said on 5th February 2013, 7:39
Because slim sidepods aren’t automatically the correct answer.
The individual parts of the car aren’t developed in isolation. Designer need to take a holistic approach – these wider sidepods have no dobt been chosen because they work best with the rest of the car.
Ambik (@ambikm) said on 5th February 2013, 7:46
But @prisoner-monkeys isn’t a larger sidepods are big hindrance to a more airflow at the rear of the car. I mean I have always known that sidepods are the real hindrance to the aerodynamic stability to the rear of the car. The smaller the sidepods,the bigger an effect to its rear aerodynamic characteristics.
bosyber (@bosyber) said on 5th February 2013, 7:49
As @prisoner-monkeys says @ambikm, small sidepods aren’t the single path to good pace. For one, internal airflow is increasingly seen as very important too.
Also, being reliable first might have something to it as well: early on virgin had trouble finishing races, that’s why HRT ended two years ahead of them. Since the team will need luck to get points anyway, making sure they are more reliable than Caterham almost worked last year, it might work this one.
Ambik (@ambikm) said on 5th February 2013, 7:56
@bosyber Yes I agree but somehow I guess as because they are using KERS for the first time hence it was ended with a larger sidepods. With regard to the size of the team I mean they must be having less resources for the KERS package to work on and hence bundling those parts altogether and then framing it with a small sidepods than usual would have been an uphill task for them. But I wish they prove a point this time around atleast to that white headed oldy.
Dphect (@dphect) said on 5th February 2013, 8:57
Crickey, I didn’t notice until you said – they’re massive. I hope they do actually have KERS, has this been confirmed by anyone?
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys) said on 5th February 2013, 11:17
It has been confirmed by the team. They announced it several months ago.
Ambik (@ambikm) said on 5th February 2013, 12:06
Yes they are defiantly using KERS in 2013 @dphect.
Loetkoe (@loetkoe) said on 5th February 2013, 7:37
Nasty! In a good way! Me like!
Gill (@gill) said on 5th February 2013, 7:39
The airbox looks really fun. It looks like someone has cut the extra part of it.
bosyber (@bosyber) said on 5th February 2013, 7:40
I agree @rob-wilson, the livery, especially on the front half, makes it look very sleek and aggressive. And the white arrow like bit at the back of the engine cover is a nice touch.
Popcorn said on 5th February 2013, 7:43
Livery is sharp and sleek, only hope is that the car does the same too! :D