Marussia are ‘shocked and angered’ by reports claiming to suggest Jules Bianchi did not slow down under caution flags at the Japanese GP, seemingly pointing the blame to the Russian team.
The 25-year-old driver is still in critical condition at a hospital in Japan with severe head injuries, after he crashed into a recovery vehicle during wet driving conditions.
Marussia also slammed claims that they had told Bianchi to go faster during the caution period to stay ahead of Caterham’s Marcus Ericsson.
In a statement to counter the accusations, the team stressed that Jules did slow down under the double waved yellow flags, as proven by the telemetry data which they had already provided to the FIA.
The FIA’s race director, Charlie Whiting, has already confirmed receiving and examining the data, which proved that Bianchi did slow down. He however, declined to reveal by how much.
The team added that it was clear from the radio transmission and the transcript, that at no point during the period leading up to Bianchi’s accident did the team urge him to drive faster, or make any comments suggesting he should do so.
Having clarified these accusations, the team says it hopes to avoid any further distractions to its primary focus at this time, which is to provide support for Bianchi and his family.
On Monday, the 25 year olds’ family said he still faces “a number of medical challenges”, but was hopeful he would still pull through and fight for his life.
Marussia’s full statement as below:
During the course of Tuesday 14 October, a number of media reports emerged suggesting:
1) that Jules Bianchi did not slow down under the double waved yellow flags shown after Adrian Sutil had spun off in the wet conditions
and
2) that the team urged Jules to go faster during the double waved yellow flag period in order to keep Marcus Ericsson behind.
The Marussia F1 Team is shocked and angered by these allegations. At a time when its driver is critically ill in hospital, and the team has made clear that its highest priority is consideration for Jules and his family, it is distressed to have to respond to deeply upsetting rumours and inaccuracies in respect of the circumstances of Jules’ accident. However, given that these allegations are entirely false, the team has no alternative but to address these.
Regarding point 1, Jules did slow down under the double waved yellow flags. That is an irrefutable fact, as proven by the telemetry data, which the team has provided to the FIA. In the FIA press conference which took place in Sochi on Friday 10 October, Charlie Whiting, the FIA’s Race Director, confirmed that the team had provided such data, that he himself had examined this data and that Jules did slow.
Regarding point 2, an audio copy of the full radio transmission between Jules and the team, and also a written transcript thereof, were provided to the FIA. It is quite clear from the transmission and the transcript that at no point during the period leading up to Jules’ accident did the team urge Jules to drive faster or make any comments suggesting that he should do so.
The team sincerely hopes that, having clarified these facts, it can now avoid any further distractions to its primary focus at this time, which is providing support for Jules and his family.
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