Eleven Years Ago, Jules Bianchi Shone in the Streets of Monaco
Heroic, the French hope gave the Marussia team its first-ever Top 10 finish in F1. This is the story of a princely debut on the World Championship record books in 2014.
The man was discreet. Preferring anonymity among the loyal old guard who have followed him since 1990—the very people who witnessed the birth of Manor Motorsport—he shunned the spotlight of television cameras flooding the Marussia garage. These first real moments of joy, long awaited for four and a half years, were something that team principal John Booth wanted to savor with his squad. “These points are a relief,” he whispered to us, while Damon Hill interviewed Bianchi for Sky Sports UK. “We thought we had a chance here, but the gearbox issue in qualifying—and the resulting five-place grid drop—made it nearly impossible. Jules drove a fantastic race, never giving up, never letting go. He’s a driver of tremendous worth. That’s why Ferrari took him under their wing. He will—although we already knew this—have a long and beautiful career in F1.”
More courteous with the media than the strong-willed Booth, Graeme Lowdon, managing director of the team, built on his boss’s remarks. “These streets have always honored the greatest drivers—and I’m delighted they today salute the immense talent of Jules,” he began. “It’s easy to heap praise on a driver when he has just done a good job, but what he achieved is exceptional. Driving here requires a fine blend of courage and intelligence. You must make the right decisions, and they were not always clear during those 78 laps. Jules showed great patience and professionalism. He used his head and was able to deliver top-tier times whenever it was necessary.”
Jules Bianchi Unleashed
All eyes and microphones turned toward Jules Bianchi. There are not many who flourish on such a treacherous, overtaking-averse track. But he managed it—with flair. “It got a bit spicy with Kobayashi at the Rascasse, but I thought I had to get past,” he noted as the 1996 world champion let him through. “When he saw I was there, he closed in slightly, but I was already beside him. I didn’t think. I saw the opening and I went for it. I was faster than him, but I wouldn’t have had another opportunity. I was only a few tenths quicker, and if I hadn’t seized the moment, I’d have stayed behind.”
Once the Caterham driver was past, the young man from the Var region gained confidence. After an outstanding start to the race—which erased the stop‑and‑go penalty he earned for not starting from his grid position—he became utterly irresistible. However, he then learned he faced a second penalty. “When they told me I was getting another stop‑and‑go, it distracted me a bit, but I managed to pull myself together. Above all, I didn’t understand why. The team explained that they had made a mistake by applying my five‑second penalty during the safety car period, but that it didn’t change the result—we were still in the points. That reassured me.”
Jules Bianchi was on a charge! Jean Michel Le Meur / DPPI
Climbing up to 10th place, the protégé of Nicolas Todt gained two more positions when Kimi Räikkönen attempted a suicidal maneuver on Kevin Magnussen at the Loews hairpin in lap 73. Jules crossed the line in 8th, but dropped one place after the addition of a five‑second penalty for missing the stop‑and‑go. A lenient judgment by standards.
“Since free practice on Thursday, we knew we had good pace compared to the Saubers and we were hoping for points, because we know this Grand Prix always brings incidents,” he concluded, indicating his future goals. “What I achieved today is what I must aim to do whenever the opportunity arises. When you’re in a small team like Marussia, you cannot afford to pass up any chance to stand out. It comes once, maybe twice in a season, but not more. You must savor the moment and keep working. We must use this result as a springboard to accelerate our rise. It’s not an end in itself, but a beginning. The team has been waiting for this for a long time and now is not the moment to relax. We understand how much work remains to become a team able to score points regularly. As for me—honestly—I’m still struggling to fully realize it…” We just need to be patient.
Text taken from AUTOhebdo issue No. 1962, published on May 28, 2014.
Source Article : https://www.autohebdo.fr/actualites/f1/il-y-a-11-ans-jules-bianchi-brillait-dans-les-rues-de-monaco.html
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