2015: A Slim Hope for Manor (ex-Marussia)?
What if Manor (formerly Marussia) was on the grid at the start of the Australian Grand Prix? This is the challenge that John Booth will have to solve, as he still wishes to believe in this possibility.
Does the impossible exist? This is the question one might ask about the Marussia F1 team. John Booth, its manager, hopes that Marussia will be on the starting grid for the 2015 season in Melbourne.
However, Marussia no longer exists and has been replaced by Manor Grand Prix in the FIA entry list for 2015, as the team was unable to participate in the last races of the 2014 season. Much of Marussia’s equipment has been sold recently at an auction, including cars, transporters, and computer servers.
For now, Manor no longer has funding and very little equipment at their disposal. However, they still have their staff, and if Manor still has a chance to line up in 2015, it’s thanks to the 2 points scored by Jules Bianchi in Monaco, which could entitle them to a windfall of around 51 million euros, with the team being ranked ninth in the constructors’ championship in 2014.
According to the British press, Manor F1 has designed a car for the next season, which does not prevent them from seeking financial means to keep the team alive. Booth and other team leaders are in discussions with many investors to ensure the team’s survival. For this, they need investors and sponsors to fund an annual budget of around 80 million euros, which could allow Manor to continue existing.
« There is still a slim hope, but it’s really very late. We have two weeks to achieve something. So there is still a chance. We are talking to investors and there are positive discussions, » Booth stated to the Yorkshire Post.
