Timo Glock has described Marussia’s plans for a short 2012 pre-season as "a shame".
The former Virgin team has admitted its new single seater is facing a delay, with the MR01 to only hit the track at the final Barcelona test in March.
And Glock and his rookie teammate Charles Pic will sit out the forthcoming Jerez test altogether.
"It’s a shame we are getting the new car late and therefore only a short preparation (for the season) is possible," German Glock is quoted by DPA news agency.
He insists the team, ahead of its third consecutive season on the grid, will therefore suffer a "hard time" in the "first third" of the 2012 calendar.
Auto Motor und Sport magazine said the car will receive its first significant update for May’s Spanish grand prix, but there will be no KERS system at all in 2012 for "cost reasons".
Glock, however, insists he is confident.
"I am positive about 2012," said the former Toyota driver. "Of course, our goal is to keep developing progressively."