Merhi struggled with sore back due to poorly-fitted seat

Will Stevens is looking forward to getting at the wheel of an all-new Manor, so that he can race against more than one rival. Currently, the former Marussia team is struggling alone at the back of the grid with a 2014 car hurriedly cobbled together to comply with this year's rules. "We have no rivals," Briton Stevens was quoted as saying on Thursday. "The only person I am fighting is my teammate," he explained, referring to fellow rookie, Spaniard Roberto Merhi.

Manor is caught in a difficult situation at present, as with certainly F1's smallest budget it is loathe to spend too much improving a car that will soon be obsolete. "Our priority," Stevens confirmed, "is to get the new car as quickly as possible. I think we will then be much more competitive." Merhi told Spain's AS newspaper that the 2015 car is "80 per cent" complete, with hopes that it will be finished in the summer.

In the meantime, he and Stevens are struggling to shine at the very back of the field. "I want to prove that I am ready for a career in formula one," said Stevens. "It helps that we are able to compare what we are doing with what the (Marussia) drivers did last year. But my only real rival is my teammate, so the goal is to be ahead of him in every session," added Stevens.

As for Merhi, he said his goal for Bahrain is exactly the same, despite struggling for the past week with a sore back due to a poorly-fitting seat. "I'm better now," he said, "no problems, and we are making a new seat." (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

World Championship standings 2025

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 - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia
21 - Mar 23 2025
China
4 - Apr 6 2025
Japan
11 - Apr 13 2025
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America
16 - May 18 2025
Italy
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco
30 - Jun 1 2025
Spain
13 - Jun 15 2025
Canada
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27 2025
Belgium
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5 2025
Singapore
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America
24 - Oct 26 2025
Mexico
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America
28 - Nov 30 2025
Qatar
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23 2025
4 - Apr 6 2025
11 - Apr 13 2025
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18 2025
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1 2025
13 - Jun 15 2025
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27 2025
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5 2025
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26 2025
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30 2025
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Marussia
  • Points 0
  • Podiums 0
  • Grand Prix 19
  • Country United Kingdom
  • Date of b. Jun 28 1991 (34)
  • Place of b. Roachford, United Kingdom
  • Weight 63 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar