Marussia wary over P9 fight

It may be ahead of Caterham and Sauber as F1's summer break comes to an end, but Marussia isn't about to start getting complacent.

Chris Medland_1

15 Aug 2014

06.04.2014- Race, Adrian Sutil (GER) Sauber F1 Team C33 and Jules Bianchi (FRA) Marussia F1 Team MR0 — 06.04.2014- Race, Adrian Sutil (GER) Sauber F1 Team C33 and Jules Bianchi …
© PHOTO 4

Marussia sporting director Graeme Lowdon says the team is not going to believe ninth in the constructors' championship could be possible until after the end of the season.

Having been comfortably quicker than Caterham for the majority of races this season, Marussia has been holding off Sauber in the constructors' since scoring two points thanks to Jules Bianchi's ninth place in Monaco. With Sauber yet to score and upcoming races at Spa and Monza likely to suit Mercedes-powered cars, Marussia is looking to hold on to ninth for as long as possible.

However, speaking exclusively to Crash.net Lowdon says the team has learned from past years how tough a task that will be. Asked when he might start believing finishing ninth is a realistic goal, Lowdon replied: "When they've published the results in Abu Dhabi!

"Honestly, we know from Brazil in 2012. Timo Glock had that race sewn up as far as beating the other team was concerned and he got taken out behind the safety car. Those sorts of things can happen and that teaches you a pretty good lesson which is literally until the cars have crossed the line, the results are published and nobody protests!

"If we get to that stage it would be brilliant but there's a lot of hard work between now and then. Of course the other teams try equally hard as well, so it's not good enough for us to just stand still, we've got to be moving forward because the other guys will be pushing really hard.

"I'm really pleased to get where we've got to but we've got to just keep that focus moving through the next races. Some of them aren't really going to suit our car. We've just got to see what we can do. Hopefully try and stay out of trouble."

While wary of what may happen in the final eight races, Lowdon added that he is proud of what the team has achieved so far this season.

"In terms of going in to the break it's without doubt the best we could expect. The guys have done a great job, raced the car and taken our chances when they've been there; which we have to do, we can't do it on raw pace at the moment."