I suspect this guy will be on a lot of people's lists at the half way point for a number of reasons, mostly because of his performance in terms of the back runners. The young Frenchman currently holds the highest place finish for the bottom two teams, which at the end of the season could help Marussia financially although as we've seen with Caterham for the past three seasons, they've done very little with it.
His pace and qualifying performances have all been superb for his position at the back. For a guy who missed out on the Force India seat, you can tell he feels truly blessed to be in the position he's in. To say Force India are kicking themselves would be wrong and untrue, but they certainly have to ask "what if?"
His P13 finish in Malaysia certainly took most my surprise, most of all Marussia's nearest competition over at Caterham. Marussia's MR02 is the first Marussia car to feature KERS, and it certainly does seem to have levelled out the playing field. If progress is to be measured against his team mates, Bianchi is beating Chilton comfortable, however Chiilton has accomplished a feat that only Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton have achieved so far this season, finishing every single race and lap. With only two DNF's to his name, Bianchi doesn't have that much to improve on.
Force India will definitely be keeping an eye on their former test driver especially if Paul di Resta is to leave for pastures new, but they may find they have bigger names chasing the young star. As a member of the Ferrari Driver's Academy, Stefano Domenicali has been monitoring his progress ever since his testing days. It's maybe about time Ferrari had some young blood around the paddock, five years without title success is not the Ferrari way.
Good things can only come from Jules Bianchi's involvement in Formula 1. The sport can genuinely benefit from such a talented individual. It just goes to show, when given two cars of the same build and capabilities, a real racing driver is capable of more than a pay driver.
Oh dear. They really have sunk to the bottom this time. If no one has heard the latest Ferrari stunt please take a read.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/20531638
Let me start off by saying; I don't like Sebastian Vettel. He's an average driver at best, the only reason he's won 3 world championships is because of the superior machinery. This is FACT people. He's only won the 2012 World Championship by only participating in the last quarter of the championship.
I am however a proud member of the Tifosi. Not my favourite team but I personally think Fernando Alonso is now the greatest driver on the grid after Michael Schumacher's exit.
But even I think is this a step too far for Stefano Domenicali and his prancing horse outfit. To actually weigh up evidence as to whether Vettel has cheated or not after it's all been said and done is (quite frankly) disgraceful.
How are Ferrari going to turn up to the award ceremony with their heads held up? They shouldn't and I would honest to God hope Fernando Alonso distances himself from this incident. I'd like to hope he wouldn't want to win the championship in this manner.
Having said this the minute the story came out, it was shot down quicker than an HRT proposal in how to go faster.
Ferrari have always been known to have had "connections" to the FIA and Bernie's doors, often whispering little favours. I personally have never believed them and I will continue to do so. But if Vettel did have the championship stripped from him, how would this have made Ferrari look?
With the introduction of another US GP, the nightmares floated back to that awful moment in history. 2005, only six cars competed due to tyre manufactures telling teams it was unsafe to run. Who was one of three teams to compete? Ferrari. The other two? Back runners (Jordan & Minardi who we now know as Sarah Force India & Scuderia Toro Rosso). This left a sour taste in everyone's mouth (not the yanks because I honestly couldn't care less).
Ferrari will always have an air of mystery about them. But nobody can deny the brilliance of this team. They are Formula 1. They go hand in hand and without them the sport would be a shadow of its former self. I'm glad the issue is dead and buried. I hope it will not impact the development of next years car, because I firmly believe this is the year Ferrari return to the top. You heard it here first!
