Marussia Fails FIA Crash Test; Future Very Uncertain

The Marussia Formula 1 team announced major problems with its 2012 car. The MR01 has failed the final FIA test for its new car. While it passed 17 of the FIA's tests, it failed the crash safety test. It will not take part in the final Formula 1 test at Barcelona that starts on March 1. 

This is a major blow for the Marussia team. It has not tested the MR01 at either of the last two Formula 1 tests. It is possible that Marussia could miss the first race in Australia. If it is able to repair the car, the team will need special dispensation to be allowed to test it before the Australian Grand Prix. That would involve getting permission from the other teams to be allowed to do an extra test. Lotus has already received this permission from the teams, and if Marussia asked, it it likely that it would also get permission. 

You can read the team's entire statement below:

We are disappointed to confirm that the planned first test of its 2012 race car - the MR01 - has been delayed as a consequence of not passing the final FIA crash test.

All cars are required to pass 18 FIA-observed tests for homologation to be granted. Despite the fact that the MR01 has passed all 17 of the preceding tests, the regulations require the car to have completed all of the tests before running commences.

We will now not take part in the final pre-season test in Barcelona later this week (1-4 March) and will instead focus its efforts on repeating the crash test at the end of the week.