- F1 Fanatic

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 06:01 AM PST

The Marussia MR03 has made its first appearance on the third day of F1 testing at Jerez. Max Chilton drove a single installation lap in the car shortly before 3pm.

Team principal John Booth said the MR03 is the product of a "young but experienced and extremely talented technical and engineering group".

"To have designed a car that is true to the concept first conceived in early 2012, despite the integration of an entirely new powertrain and whilst pushing hard to attain our 2013 constructors' championship objective, is a testament to the extent to which we have matured as a technical organisation," he added.

The team's latest F1 design is their first to feature a Ferrari V6 turbo engine.

"We have nothing but good things to say about our new relationship with Scuderia Ferrari," said Booth. "They are extremely professional and have been entirely supportive from the beginning."

"There is excellent co-operation between our two technical groups in all areas of the new relationship and this has made the considerable challenge of integrating a new powertrain a great deal easier."

Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton will continue to drive for the team this year, making Marussia the only team besides Mercedes to retain its 2013 driver line-up.

"In view of the significant regulation changes, continuity is key, so it is highly beneficial to our technical team, and the engineering group responsible for developing the car in the field, that we retain the same drivers," said chief engineer Dave Greenwood.

"What this means is that we have not only been able to optimise our monocoque design around an existing line-up, but we can focus all of our attentions on developing the MR03 with immediate effect."