Jules Bianchi shines as Marussia score first ever points in Monaco Grand Prix

By Steven Oldham

Frenchman Jules Bianchi put in a star turn by scoring both his and Marussia's first points in Formula 1 in an action packed Monaco Grand Prix today.

Bianchi finished eighth, but was classified ninth to score two points after receiving two penalties, one which was applied after the race.

He was given two five second stop and go penalties - the first for being out of place on the grid - and the second for taking the first penalty in a safety car period which is not allowed under FIA regulations.

Despite this, he managed to avoid the numerous accidents and spins and record his best result in a race with many retirements. Kimi Raikonnen and Kevin Magnussen's coming together no doubt helped him but he kept a clear head and got the car home ahead of the much more established Lotus car of Romain Grosjean.

Bianchi has impressed in his Formula 1 career so far. His hands have been tied somewhat with the lack of resources Marussia have to drag themselves away from the back of the grid but his two points today will be invaluable in the title battle with Caterham this year.  He's had the better of Max Chilton in race pace more often than not, if not the reliability of the British driver. 



Jules and Marussia celebrate (@Marussia_F1Team)

Main rivals Caterham were also close to gaining their first points as Marcus Ericsson eventually came 11th, and Marussia will be grateful Magnussen managed to recover his McLaren to claim the final point.

If Bianchi does leave after this season - he looks destined for bigger things and his place in the Ferrari Driver Academy confirms he is well thought of in the biggest teams - he looks likely to have secured  Marussia a top ten championship place for a second season running.

There are a lot of races left to go obviously, and it's not impossible either Ericsson or Kamui Kobayashi will match or eclipse Bianchi's points scoring exploits. But races like today are few and far between, with the attrition rate so high and narrow tracks like Monaco a rarity in modern Formula 1.

Bianchi however was in a class of one in the battle of the smaller teams today.  His determined, rugged overtake of Kobayashi, following Raikonnen through seemed to be the catalyst for his best performance in an F1 car to date.

It's because of his performance Marussia sit ninth in the constructors table - ahead of Sauber - on merit - with two points.  It's also one of the reason he won't be with the team next year. But what a brilliant early leaving present he's given his team.

Caterham and Marussia need to up their game with Haas Racing and another new team joining the F1 party in 2015

By Steven Oldham

The announcement that Nascar team boss Gene Haas' entry to Formula 1 has been accepted by the FIA should act as an incentive for Caterham and Marussia to up their performance.

Haas - whose estimated $740 million personal worth dwarfs budgets up and down the grid - is set to lead an American team to the grid for the first time since the ill fated US F1 outfit went bust before the season opener in 2010.

Both Marussia and Caterham debuted in that year under different names (alongside the now defunct HRT) but have still yet to score a point. 

The battle between the two teams to finish tenth in the constructors table - and the extra funds unlocked for doing so - has been an interesting side note in recent seasons - but finishing tenth this year could be more important than ever.

With the Haas entry and the as yet unconfirmed 13th team, the chances of either outfit coming in the top ten next year are reduced - either by outright performance, reliability or sheer pot luck.

Caterham's 2014 car (thanks to Autosport for the photo)

Caterham boss Tony Fernandes has been outspoken about the sport's failure to implement a budget cap since the last intake of teams and is unlikely to relish the thought of a cash-rich new entry leapfrogging his team in their first season.  The lack of a cap has undoubtedly hindered both backmarker teams as the likes of Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari continue to pour vast amounts into their budgets.

Talented American racer Alexander Rossi - and Caterham reserve driver - may also have his head swayed if Haas takes the patriotic route new teams often do with a home driver in a race seat.

Marussia and Caterham are not the only pointless teams after the opening races but, as bad as Lotus and Sauber have started the year, they are surely more likely to collect points, so it's imperative they hit the ground running from the European season onwards when the first new upgrades to their cars are likely to arrive.

Max Chilton's ability to get his car to the end of a race - he has still yet to retire over a year into his F1 career - could prove critical and his pair of 13th places in Australia and Bahrain have given Marussia an early lead, with Caterham's Kamui Kobayashi finishing in the same place in Malaysia.

More teams in F1 can only be a good thing - more cars means more overtaking and more interesting racing - but the existing strugglers need to be able to hold their own or face a further slide down the rankings and maybe into total non-existence.

Marussia MR03 in testing (thanks to Getty Images for photo)