Marussia/Manor to exit administration

[MartG]

It's being reported that Marussia Manor are to exit administration in a couple of weeks, and are expecting to be on the grid in Australia

http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/17581/9698920/ma...

I hope they manage to do it

[jamiebae]

Reports suggesting that the man behind it is Justin King - used to run Sainsbury's, son Jordan is moving up to GP2 for 2015 and he was tipped as a potential successor to Bernie for a while.

Fingers crossed he pulls it off, if nothing else it'll guarantee another Brit on the grid in 2016.

[Redlake27]

Good news. It would be good if this becomes a genuine long-term entry, not just a front for Haas or a Ferrari scam to recoup their debts. We need small teams.....

...now what about Caterham?

[andyps]

Redlake27 said:

Good news. It would be good if this becomes a genuine long-term entry, not just a front for Haas or a Ferrari scam to recoup their debts. We need small teams.....

...now what about Caterham?

I guess if there aren't many potential backers around the team to buy into is Manor as they at least come with prize money from 2014. Would be great to see them both back though.

[DanielSan]

I know F1 needs the small teams, but a team with no cash and a car a year old and likely to be 10 seconds off the pace isn't exactly a credible entry imo. It's far from a positive for the sport in that situation.

[Teppic]

In order for Manor to be allowed to run the 2014 car, they need the unanimous approval of all the other teams.

Guess what is going to happen.

[tin duck dave]

Hasn't all clear to use last years car already been agreed

[Teppic]

I believe it was a case of "Yes, they can run the 2014 car, if the other teams agree".

It is possible that the FIA or Bernie could step in, but at the moment Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Sauber, Force India and Lotus have all indicated that they would oppose the move.

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns29895.html

[Chrisgr31]

I hope no team objects because I think in doing so they will do serious damage to F1. I think a lot of people were and indeed are supportive of Marussia/Manor. Many of those people are also fed up with the infighting in F1, the arguments over cost saving, the flogging of TV rights to Pay TV, the clampdown on social media, Bernie etc.

Other teams objecting to their revival will just push those people over the edge and they will vote with their feet.

I'd be surprised if Sauber vote against, particularly if the resurrection of Marussia/Manor is in Ferraris interest. Force India are in danger of being a spent force. Red Bull/ Torro Rosso just confirm that I am grateful I have never bought a can of their product.

[andyps]

Teppic said:

I believe it was a case of "Yes, they can run the 2014 car, if the other teams agree".

It is possible that the FIA or Bernie could step in, but at the moment Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Sauber, Force India and Lotus have all indicated that they would oppose the move.

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns29895.html

Only reason I can think that they would not agree is because of money - without Marussia/Manor maybe the pot of money would be spread across the remaining teams. It is highly unlikely that last years Marussia would beat any of this years cars based on testing results.

Reading the quote it does imply Marko does not have the best interest of the sport in his thinking.

[Corpulent Tosser]

I hope they can get some agreement to race, if not I can see a grid of 16 cars this season and that cannot be good for the sport.

A few years back Motogp were struggling for grid numbers, an initiative which at the time I didn't like was to run what was effectively two championships in one race (two classes, one for factory prototypes and one for modified road bike engines in custom chassis, that has now become factory bikes and customer bikes, known as open class)

A similar thing could be done to encourage more entries, a seperate class for last years cars, this has been done in other formulas.

I would like to see grids of 24 not 16.

[andburg]

Problem is they were around 4 seconds off the pace in Q3 qualifying last year, the figures this year show an apparently 2.4s improvement in Jerez, by the time get to Australia this could be 3.0 seconds

Very rough but based on 2.4 seconds improvement for the leaders, adding 2.4s to the Marrussia Q1 time (this is skewed slightly in their favour as 107% will be calculated against a new faster time) means.

Australia - Fail to qualify
Malaysia - Fail to Qualify
Bahrain - Qualify
China - Qualify (within 0.5)
Spain - Qualify (within 0.5)
Monaco - Qualify (within 0.5)
Canada - Qualify (within 0.5)

Even if its agreed for them to run last years car they are very very borderline for actually qualify to race!

[rubystone]

Why have Caterham been able to secure approval to run last year's car then? Is it because of the money? I am 99% sure the prize money isn't redistributed though. Presumably it has something to do with who may be mooted as their engine supplier?

[kent_phil]

andyps said:

Only reason I can think that they would not agree is because of money - without Marussia/Manor maybe the pot of money would be spread across the remaining teams. It is highly unlikely that last years Marussia would beat any of this years cars based on testing results.

Reading the quote it does imply Marko does not have the best interest of the sport in his thinking.

Whilst I would love to more teams on the grid I just don't see the other small teams allowing it - it dilutes the already depleted pool of available sponsors / drives down rate card and also takes the pressure off those in control to sort out the underlying issues affecting all the small teams.

[Teppic]

Well, I hate to say I told you so, but...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117609

Basically Manor have failed in their request to run the 2014 Marussia car after failing to get the unanimous support of the other teams.

Barring intervention from Bernie and/or the FIA, Manor will not be on the grid in 2015 as it is impossible to design and build a car to 2015 specifications in time.

ETA another link http://www.pitpass.com/53283/Strategy-Group-blocks...

Edited by Teppic on Thursday 5th February 21:29

[MartG]

tts - can't they see that they are progressively making the sport less interesting for spectators by failing to put enough cars on the track ? Four car fewer this year than last ( maybe six if Force India don't get their act together )

[Stelvio1]

MartG said:

tts - can't they see that they are progressively making the sport less interesting for spectators by failing to put enough cars on the track ? Four car fewer this year than last ( maybe six if Force India don't get their act together )

Totally agree, but unsurprised by the decision. F1 teams fail to help other F1 team? - well I never! Come on Bernie show some balls and over-rule them!

[andyps]

Stelvio1 said:

Totally agree, but unsurprised by the decision. F1 teams fail to help other F1 team? - well I never! Come on Bernie show some balls and over-rule them!

But this is exactly the situation Bernie has always worked to achieve - disharmony amongst the teams using divide and conquer. He doesn't want them to help each other out, although maybe if he does something to over-rule them (if even Bernie can) then it may provoke some disharmony, but maybe not between the teams. Would Todt be able to give dispensation? I am not sure if he has the power or the balls to do it.

[R1 Indy]

I may be missing something.....

But why have the other teams rejected this?

It's hardly like a shoestring 2014 car is going to be a threat to them.

[rubystone]

R1 Indy said:

I may be missing something.....

But why have the other teams rejected this?

It's hardly like a shoestring 2014 car is going to be a threat to them.

They seem to think Marussia's 2014 prize money may be split between them? After all, they greenlighted Caterham's use of their 2014 chassis.

If Force India were one of the naysayers, I shall lose all respect for them. And given Ferrari's connections with Marussia through Bianchi, surely they would have been in favour as long as they were paid their bills from 2014?

Very piss poor show.