Manor confirms Merhi for next couple of races

  • Published on 18 May 2015 15:44
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra

John Booth confirmed Roberto Merhi is going to drive for Manor in the next races, but before that Merhi was more or less confident about his presence within the team. As he says: "Normally I always continue, what would be strange is they said to me I don't continue. If that was the case they would've said it to me and if they don't say anything, I continue", he told F1Today.net.

Before going to Monaco, teams made the most of the time for test in the in-season test in Barcelona. Test where Manor was the only one who didn't participate as the team doesn't need it, something Merhi agrees: "It is the car from the last year, so maybe we cannot progress too much, we don't have any new parts, so in reality it isn't worth too much for us."

Manor is still racing with the MR04, the car from the previous season while the team keeps working towards a new car. "Once it is entirely designed, it needs three weeks to produce it. At the moment, it's going ok, trying to do the best work possible in the short time”, says Merhi.

"The new car is supposed to be a step forward for the team for various reasons. Firstly, the engine. Using the new power unit will help us a lot. Second one is the downforce. It will be a general improvement, both power and downforce."

The new car could be able to solve some problems show to be affecting Merhi's performance. One of the most important, the weight: "The main problem is the weight, there are twelve kgs of difference, it is around five tenths per lap. Obviously, more weight means I also wore the tyres more. It doesn't help me at all."

Despite the impediment, the Spaniard tries to beat his teammate, the only battle Manor drivers can face. In the Spanish GP, Merhi passed Stevens in the starting, but team orders changed the situation: "I was doing my laps fairly constant and they told me I had to let him pass. It is really frustrating the fact that we are two drivers who are not able to fight for the position. But well, that's racing."

However, Merhi doesn't give up and keeps trying to show his potential, as he thinks still has room enough to improve his performance: "I think I've not been able to show my skills, and it's really a problem. But you have to keep trying to improve and keep learning."

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Mar 22 1991 (33)
  • Place of b. Castellon, ES
  • Weight 76 kg
  • Length 1.79 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar