Manor F1 looks set to retain Stevens and Rossi

  • Published on 02 Dec 2015 14:05
  • comments 1
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Manor looks set to stick with its current driver lineup for the 2016 season. Although Roberto Merhi returned to the car for the 2015 finale in Abu Dhabi, he was only filling in for new regular Alexander Rossi as the American completed his GP2 campaign. "I think I've shown I am capable of being in F1 and I'm confident of keeping the seat," Rossi said in Abu Dhabi.

The other cockpit has been occupied all year by Briton Will Stevens, and he admitted: "I think everything is looking good for next year. I'm pretty comfortable with where I am and where we are with the team," he added.

It is believed Manor has ramped up its asking price for the cockpits for 2016, given the move from 2014-spec Ferrari power to up-to-date Mercedes engines for 2016. Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that the price per seat for 2016 is $10 million. "As the competitiveness of the team should go up, so does the price," Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff admitted in Abu Dhabi.

Wolff was commenting on the price of a Manor seat because he has been trying to find a place for Pascal Wehrlein, the 2015 Mercedes reserve and DTM champion. But he suggested that $10 million is too big a price to pay. "We have a driver budget, but not on this scale," he told Auto Motor und Sport.

Mercedes has also signed another tester, Esteban Ocon, for 2016, with Wolff saying last week: "It could mean both of them ending up in a testing role, in a reserve role and in a DTM role, so it's not done yet." Auto Motor und Sport also claims that the new development role at Williams for Lance Stroll, the son of Canadian billionaire Lawrence, is costing no less than $6 million. (GMM)

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • khasmir

    Posts: 893

    This problem with pay drivers is getting worse and worse. The whole system is just wrong.
    How can you justify someone like Vandoorne not having an F1 seat for 2016? A GP2 champion should always get the chance to prove himself in F1. I'm sure that the whole of FOM, FIA, ... combined can come up with a budget of say $10 million to secure an F1 seat.
    That should be the biggest reward for becoming GP2 champion: to get in F1!!!
    Good that Palmer seems to be getting his seat with one year delay, hope the same for Vandoorne.

    • + 0
    • Dec 2 2015 - 18:56

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 2024
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia
5 - Apr 7 2024
Japan
19 - Apr 21 2024
China
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America
17 - May 19 2024
Italy
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco
7 - Jun 9 2024
Canada
21 - Jun 23 2024
Spain
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary
26 - Jul 28 2024
Belgium
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22 2024
Singapore
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America
25 - Oct 27 2024
Mexico
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America
29 - Dec 1 2024
Qatar
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2 2024
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7 2024
19 - Apr 21 2024
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19 2024
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9 2024
21 - Jun 23 2024
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28 2024
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22 2024
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27 2024
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1 2024
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • 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
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar