Been a while, hasn’t it? No, seriously, when were you this impressed by an F1 rookie’s race debut as you were with Jules Bianchi’s last time out in Melbourne? Fernando Alonso with Minardi in 2001, maybe? Or Sebastian Vettel in Toro Rosso colours in 2008? Either way, it’s been a long time since a new driver made such an impression in their debut race.
Undoubtedly, the young Frenchman who comes from the Ferrari Driver Academy showed himself to be the best of the newcomers after an impressive drive to 15th in a Marussia - whilst vastly improved and now with KERS - that should not really be there. Then again, a driver wouldn’t be noticed by Ferrari for his mediocrity would he?
Certainly, you could argue that the much-hyped Valtteri Bottas was the most impressive of the rookies with a mature drive to 14th in a tricky Williams, and don’t forget he also comes highly rated from Sir Frank Williams, a man who were you to cut him, would seep petrol.
However, also do not forget that Sir Frank also rated Antonio Pizzonia… It just appeared that Bottas performed little better than Bruno Senna who he replaced. Given the hype, it was just all a little underwhelming.
Furthermore, Bianchi was also the sole backmarker to finish on the same lap as the leaders. This placed him ahead of his teammate Max Chilton, and the two Caterhams of Giedo van der Garde, and compatriot Charles Pic who drove for Marussia last season.
Expect some serious head scratching from Pic, as the Caterham looked to be in possession of some seriously evil handling traits and given Bianchi’s 19th place lap time was almost two seconds quicker than Pic’s in 22nd, was by far the slowest car on the grid.
Although Bianchi had every right to describe himself as “very happy” and unable to “imagine a better start” to his Formula 1 career, these post-race quotes were a master class in understatement.
Other figures – race lap times, qualifying times – make for further impressive reading. Whilst 19th place on the grid seems about right for where a newcomer in a Marussia should be, Bianchi placed the car ahead of Chilton by almost .800 of a second, and around half a second behind Esteban Gutierrez’s Sauber in 16th and the Williams of Pastor Maldonado one place ahead in 15th.
Of all of Bianchi’s achievements last weekend, setting the 11th fastest lap time with a 1m30.454 was the most outstanding. This put him on the same page - in terms of lap time – as Vettel (1m30.409), Button (1m30.198) and Massa (1m30.239), and made him by far the quickest of 2013’s new drivers.
To put it into perspective, Bottas clocked a 1m30.652 as his best effort. The Marussia driver’s sector times also made an impression as the first sector saw him once again keep on the pace of Vettel and Massa.
Still, the story of Jules Bianchi almost did not happen at all. Following a ‘this is not a shoot-out, honestly’ shoot out with Adrian Sutil for the second Force India over the winter, the young Frenchman lost out to Formula 1’s latest comeback kid and it seemed he would have to spend another year on the side-lines as a reserve driver.
Then the issue of then Marussia driver Luiz Razia’s funding cropped up… Razia was ousted, Bianchi was given the seat and had just two days to get used to the Marussia before the team prepared to head to Melbourne.
Undoubtedly, the young Frenchman who comes from the Ferrari Driver Academy showed himself to be the best of the newcomers after an impressive drive to 15th in a Marussia - whilst vastly improved and now with KERS - that should not really be there. Then again, a driver wouldn’t be noticed by Ferrari for his mediocrity would he?
 |
| Photo: WRi2 |
Certainly, you could argue that the much-hyped Valtteri Bottas was the most impressive of the rookies with a mature drive to 14th in a tricky Williams, and don’t forget he also comes highly rated from Sir Frank Williams, a man who were you to cut him, would seep petrol.
However, also do not forget that Sir Frank also rated Antonio Pizzonia… It just appeared that Bottas performed little better than Bruno Senna who he replaced. Given the hype, it was just all a little underwhelming.
Furthermore, Bianchi was also the sole backmarker to finish on the same lap as the leaders. This placed him ahead of his teammate Max Chilton, and the two Caterhams of Giedo van der Garde, and compatriot Charles Pic who drove for Marussia last season.
Expect some serious head scratching from Pic, as the Caterham looked to be in possession of some seriously evil handling traits and given Bianchi’s 19th place lap time was almost two seconds quicker than Pic’s in 22nd, was by far the slowest car on the grid.
 |
| Photo: WRi2 |
Although Bianchi had every right to describe himself as “very happy” and unable to “imagine a better start” to his Formula 1 career, these post-race quotes were a master class in understatement.
Other figures – race lap times, qualifying times – make for further impressive reading. Whilst 19th place on the grid seems about right for where a newcomer in a Marussia should be, Bianchi placed the car ahead of Chilton by almost .800 of a second, and around half a second behind Esteban Gutierrez’s Sauber in 16th and the Williams of Pastor Maldonado one place ahead in 15th.
Of all of Bianchi’s achievements last weekend, setting the 11th fastest lap time with a 1m30.454 was the most outstanding. This put him on the same page - in terms of lap time – as Vettel (1m30.409), Button (1m30.198) and Massa (1m30.239), and made him by far the quickest of 2013’s new drivers.
To put it into perspective, Bottas clocked a 1m30.652 as his best effort. The Marussia driver’s sector times also made an impression as the first sector saw him once again keep on the pace of Vettel and Massa.
 |
| Photo: WRi2 |
Still, the story of Jules Bianchi almost did not happen at all. Following a ‘this is not a shoot-out, honestly’ shoot out with Adrian Sutil for the second Force India over the winter, the young Frenchman lost out to Formula 1’s latest comeback kid and it seemed he would have to spend another year on the side-lines as a reserve driver.
Then the issue of then Marussia driver Luiz Razia’s funding cropped up… Razia was ousted, Bianchi was given the seat and had just two days to get used to the Marussia before the team prepared to head to Melbourne.