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Manor: "Today was effectively our first day of testing"

Manor: "Today was effectively our first day of testing"

  • Published on 13 Mar 2015 09:18
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
The 2015 season is off to a stuttering start in Melbourne, with only 8 of the 10 teams actually firing up their engines in Friday practice. Sauber is embroiled in the Giedo van der Garde chaos, while the engines at resurrected Manor stayed silent for entirely different reasons.

After its computers were wiped clean for sale amid administration, Manor is now in frantic talks with engine supplier Ferrari to re-install crucial data that will allow the complex 'power units' to even be fired up. "Just because we're here doesn't mean you just turn the key and go," boss Graeme Lowdon told Britain's Sky.

It is rumoured Manor's operational issues are so complex the team may not be ready to turn a wheel for several races. "We just have to keep working through methodically," said Lowdon, who said Manor will do its "absolute best" to be able to qualify and race in Melbourne. As the other cars practiced on Friday, Manor confirmed: "Today was effectively our first day of testing".

So even if the software problems can be resolved, the team is facing a shopping list of other problems. There are rumours the British government is still pursuing the team for unpaid taxes. Other speculation suggests Ferrari is also pushing for bills to be paid.

And then there is the matter of the hurriedly-modified 2014 car, powered by the similarly year-old Ferrari engine. Asked if the 107 per cent qualifying rule might be a problem, driver Will Stevens admitted: "It depends how much faster the guys at the top have become."

Winter testing suggests the field has moved forward by a factor of at least two seconds per lap. "We're going to do the best job we can," said Stevens, "but whether that's within 107pc or not I don't know." (GMM)
F1 News Will Stevens Sauber Ferrari Manor Motorsport

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Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
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Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
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United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
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Brazil
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United States of America
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Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
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Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
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Austria Red Bull Ring
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United Kingdom Silverstone
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Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
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Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
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United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
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Qatar Losail International Circuit
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Driver profile

GB Will Stevens 28
  • Team Marussia
  • Points 0
  • Podiums 0
  • Grand Prix 19
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Jun 28 1991 (33)
  • Place of b. Roachford, GB
  • Weight 63 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
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