Manor had been blighted by software issues all weekend in Melbourne but those were mostly resolved by the time we got to Malaysia and both Roberto Mehri and Stevens hit the track on Friday in Malaysia in an updated version of last years Marussia MR03. The team will be using this car and the 2014 Ferrari engine until its bespoke 2015 challenger is launched later on in the year, along with the 2015 Ferrari engine. Mehri had a tough FP1 with little running but Stevens had a smoother day, getting up and running as the team checked the car over and made sure all was as they wanted.
The team were of course miles off the pace but that should come as no surprise. Not only is this last years car and power unit but the car clearly was not running at full power or 100%. Manor are of course recovering from being in administration since October last year and these first few races will just be about running the car in and getting the race team operational again. All of the equipment they are using won't have been used since the 2014 Russian Grand Prix and the same goes for the car (sporting a rather nice but empty red and white livery, as well as a new 2015 style nose) and Friday Practice was essentially the teams version of pre-season testing.
Despite the issues the team had a great Friday, all things considering but Saturday didn't go as they might have hoped. Whilst both cars ran in FP3, Stevens had a fuel system issue near the end of the session and sadly couldn't qualify. Mehri did get out for his first ever Formula 1 qualifying session, although he did qualify outside of the 107%. But both drivers were cleared to race as they had both set representative lap times within the 107% rule in the Free Practice sessions. Sadly, the fuel system issue couldn't be fixed for Stevens to take part in the race, Mehri though did make the start and did a solid job of bringing the car home in 15th place (last of the finishers) and despite being 3 laps down, it was a great achievement for the team.
The return of Manor though was one real feel good story. The team looked down and out at the end of last year, but after last minute investment from OVO Energy founder Steven Fitzpatrick saved the team from extinction. Together with ex-Sainsburys CEO Justin King (who whilst not financing the team is joining on the management side), he has ensured that 10 teams will take part in Formula 1 this year after the sad demise of Caterham. A touching gesture was the use of #JB17 on the top of the roll hoops on the car, that of course being for driver No.17, Jules Bianchi, still recovering from his horrific crash in Suzuka last year. It would have been a real shame for the team to go under after achieving its breakthrough points in Monaco last year.
So a massive well done to the Manor Marussia F1 team and thank you to Steven Fitzpatrick for saving the team. Whilst Melbourne was a bit of a damp squib for the team, it was fantastic to see the cars hit the track at last in Sepang and the team were overjoyed at achieving this. Well done to everyone at Manor Marussia F1, welcome back to Formula 1! You all deserve it.
All pictures copyright Manor Marussia F1
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