11/11/2015
NEWS STORY
It's hard to believe, but Round 18 of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, the Formula 1 Grande Prêmio Petrobras Do Brasil 2015, will be the penultimate race of the 2015 season. For the Manor Marussia F1 Team, the previous 17 rounds have flashed by, during an intense year of rebuilding and developing the team for the new challenges ahead.
It feels like a long time since the Team was last racing in Brazil, having missed the last three rounds of 2014, of which this event was one. It is fantastic to be back however, to sample the new Paddock facilities at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace and be reminded of the one thing that never changes - the incredible atmosphere generated by the passionate Brazilian fans.
Alexander Rossi returns to the cockpit alongside Will Stevens, and after a very exciting battle of team-mates in Mexico last time out, together they will be pushing for another two-car finish to add to the Team's impressive tally.
Will Stevens: "The race in Mexico was a very exciting one between me and Alex. In the end, it didn't deliver the position I held for much of the race, but I felt like I was back to where I was, after a few slightly more challenging rounds on my side of the garage. A stronger weekend there has really fired me up to end the season on a high note, so I'm feeling very optimistic about the next two races, in Brazil and Abu Dhabi. Obviously Abu Dhabi I've raced at before, but Brazil is another new circuit for me, and one I've always been excited about racing at. What's great is that it's a new experience for me personally, but an old classic with a lot of heritage and obviously forever tied to the legacy of one of my own inspirations, Ayrton Senna. It's also a very challenging circuit, which are my favourites, as it's another opportunity for a driver to show their skill in arriving at a good compromise set-up to cope with the different circuit characteristics. I'm looking forward to it."
Alexander Rossi: "Brazil is my final race of 2015 for the team and I really hope it will be as positive as the past four have been for me. I'm very satisfied with my performances thus far, so we will need to keep the momentum going to end on a really strong note. This is a track that I've raced and won on in the past, so I will be looking forward to hitting the ground running on Friday. The weather looks like it will be a variable again, as is so often the case with this circuit, but I have grown to be quite comfortable with the car in all conditions, especially after the past two race weekends. I can't wait to get out there on Friday and resume the on-track battle with Will for one final time this year."
John Booth, Team Principal: "First of all, it's great to be back in Brazil. Obviously, last year, we missed out on this and two other races. As one of the more traditional circuits, and with one of the most passionate crowds, it was sorely missed. Secondly, congratulations to the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on delivering the much-improved Paddock facilities. The old ones had a certain charm, but the new environment is much more conducive to our race team operation and also looking after our guests. As we embark on the penultimate round of the 2015 season, it becomes clear just how much we have achieved as a Team, since we hastily regrouped at the start of the year. As a result, the races have flown by and it feels like there has hardly been time to draw breath. We want to ensure we end the season on a high note, so with the motivation of a fantastic battle between Alexander and Will in Mexico and yet another two-car finish - those cars just keep going round, don't they? - we will keep pushing hard during the next two events. This track provides a good few challenges for the engineers and drivers; there is the consideration of the altitude - which has implications for both engine and aero - the typically mixed weather forecast, and arriving at the right compromise set-up. It is a race that always keeps a team on its toes, right up until the final lap."