Marussia MR02

After being suspended from the sport for his role in the race-fixing controversy of 2009,{{cite web|last=Elizalde|first=Pablo|title=FIA, Briatore reach settlement|publisher=Haymarket Publications|work=autosport.com|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/82844|date=12 April 2010|access-date=7 February 2013}} Pat Symonds took on the role of consultant to the Marussia team (then known as Virgin Racing) in 2011. His suspension was lifted at the end of the 2012 season, allowing Symonds to actively participate in the development of the MR02. Under his direction, Marussia abandoned the exclusive use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD)—a method developed by former chief designer Nick Wirth—to develop their car, and instead used conventional techniques such as scale models and wind tunnels, with CFD used to complement rather than dominate the design process. In addition, Marussia formed a technical partnership with McLaren Applied Technologies, the technical development arm of Formula One team McLaren and its parent company, to use their wind tunnel facilities.

The MR02 was the first car built by Marussia to use the Kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) device since the system was reintroduced in 2011.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8756430.stm|title=Changes made to F1|publisher=BBC|date=23 June 2010|access-date=7 January 2013|first=Andrew|last=Benson}} The car used a KERS device designed by Williams F1, based on the design that Williams used when they were a customer of Marussia's engine supplier, Cosworth, in 2011.

The car was launched with a partial Coandă effect exhaust system, the concept of which had been developed by other teams throughout the 2012 season.{{cite news|title=McLaren's exhaust solution examined|url=http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/02/28/2012-exhaust-innovations-mclaren/|first=John|last=Beamer|work=F1 Fanatic|publisher=Keith Collantine|date=28 February 2012|access-date=7 February 2013}}{{cite news|title=How Ferrari solved their exhaust problem|url=http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/07/05/ferrari-solved-exhaust-problem/|first=John|last=Beamer|work=F1 Fanatic|publisher=Keith Collantine|date=5 July 2012|access-date=7 February 2013}}{{cite news|title=Lotus to bring in Coanda-style exhaust for Korea|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/103239|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=9 October 2012|access-date=7 February 2013}} The Coandă system uses the curved bodywork of the car to direct the flow of exhaust gases over the rear diffuser, generating increased downforce.{{cite web|title= McLaren MP4-27 – exhaust positioning|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2012/0/939.html|work=Formula1.com|publisher=Formula One Administration|date=14 March 2012|access-date=7 February 2013|quote=The hot air is guided by an assortment of curved surfaces which surround the exhaust [...] as the surfaces curve away from the flow of air, low pressure builds, which in turn forces the air to remain attached to those surfaces.}}

The MR02 made its competitive debut at the 2013 Australian Grand Prix. In difficult conditions, Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton qualified in nineteenth and twentieth place, ahead of their closest rivals, the Caterhams drivers Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde.{{cite news|title=Australian GP qualifying postponed to Sunday morning|url=http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/03/16/australian-gp-qualifying-postponed-sunday-morning/|first=Keith|last=Collantine|work=F1 Fanatic|publisher=Keith Collantine|date=16 March 2013|access-date=20 March 2013}} Bianchi went on to finish the race in fifteenth place, one lap behind eventual winner Kimi Räikkönen. Chilton finished in seventeenth place, two laps behind Räikkönen.{{cite news|title=2013 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix — Results |url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2013/893/ |work=Formula1.com |publisher=Formula One Administration |date=17 March 2013 |access-date=20 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320194903/http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2013/893/ |archive-date=March 20, 2013 }} At the next race in Malaysia, Bianchi took advantage of a string of retirements to finish thirteenth overall, once again ahead of the Caterham drivers. Chilton went on to finish sixteenth, as the final classified driver.{{cite news|title=2013 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix — Results |url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2013/894/7197 |work=Formula1.com |publisher=Formula One Administration |date=24 March 2013 |access-date=30 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504145000/http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2013/894/7197/ |archive-date=May 4, 2013 }}

File:23 Chilton (9184043257).jpg

The car received its first technical updates at the Chinese Grand Prix,{{cite news|title=New parts boost for Marussia in China|url=http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/04/08/parts-boost-marussia-china/|first=Keith|last=Collantine|work=F1 Fanatic|publisher=Keith Collantine|date=8 April 2013|access-date=9 April 2013}} where Bianchi and Chilton finished in fifteenth and seventeenth place respectively, once again ahead of the Caterhams. Charles Pic out-qualified and finished ahead of both MR02s in Bahrain, but the team retained their position in the World Constructors' Championship courtesy of Bianchi's thirteenth-place finish in Malaysia.

The team eventually finished a de facto tenth in the Constructors' Championship, with no points but ahead of Caterham due to a better finishing record.

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(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

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• [http://www.marussiaf1team.com/ Marussia F1 — the official site]

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{{Marussia F1}}

{{Marussia Motors}}

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Category:Marussia Formula One cars