Sunday 25 May 2014

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.

Loss of Edinburgh derby will hurt Scottish top tier as Hibs and Hearts go down

By Steven Oldham

Hamilton Academical beat Hibernian 4-3 on penalties this afternoon in the relegation/promotion play-off to secure the last place in next season's top flight.

After recovering from a 2-0 first leg defeat, Accies beat their opponents by the same scoreline today to take the tie to extra time, with no deadlock being found leading to the dreaded penalty shootout.

Hibs' short-lived joy as they win first leg 2-0. (@HibernianFCClub)

With Hearts already long gone, the top flight will be without a club from the capital next year and as such the Edinburgh derby is relegated to the second tier.

Whilst bad for the clubs, it is perhaps even worse for the Scottish Premiership, which loses two of its best attended clubs.  Only Celtic saw more fans through their turnstiles than Hearts this year and Hibs were a clear fourth in the attendance table this year with Aberdeen sandwiched in third place.

A league still struggling without Rangers, clubs in the Premiership must be even more concerned about yet another drop in gate revenue.  While attendances at Dundee and Hamilton will surely rise thanks to their promotion, their combined gates will not even match those of Hibs, never mind Hearts.

Five clubs had an average of less than 5,000 through their gates per game this season.  Next year it is likely to be seven.  For more than half of the Scotland's top flight clubs to fail to break this mark is both disappointing and worrying given the country's passion for the sport and history in the game.

Next year's Championship is looking intriguing to say the least - Hearts and Hibs will be looking to put this season's woes behind them with an instant return.

But it won't be as simple as a straight fit between the two for the Championship title.  Rangers will be looking to win a third successive promotion, and beaten play-off contenders Falkirk will want to at least match their third place finish if possible.  Recent experience of this level may help them surprise their more illustrious rivals.

Hibernian boss Terry Butcher wants to stay but admits his future is out of his hands.  His side's capitulation in their most important game of the season today is unlikely to go in his favour.  Nor will the angry reaction of fans following the game.  Hibs will prepare for life outside the top flight for the first time since 1999.

Hearts meanwhile need to regroup now their future has been secured with a change of ownership.  Stability will hopefully return under new chairwoman Ann Budge and much depends on the success of the relationship between the returning Craig Levein in the director of football role and new head coach, and former Hearts player, Robbie Neilson.

Scotland's capital will not have a team in the top tier next season. The sooner this is remedied, the better for all involved.

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