Manor (formerly Marussia)

Virgin

FIA Entry: Marussia Virgin Racing
Car 24: Timo Glock
Car 25: Jerome d’Ambrosio
Engine: Cosworth V8
Team Principal: John Booth
Technical Director: Nick Wirth
Race Engineer Car 24: Mark Hutchison
Race Engineer Car 25: Dave Greenwood

Stats as of end 2010

First Entered 2010
Races Entered 19
Race Wins 0
Pole Positions 0
Fastest Laps 0
Driver World Championships 0
Constructor World Championships 0

Manor Motorsport

When F3 team Manor Motorsport were given a place on the F1 grid in 2010 they commissioned Wirth Research to build them a car. Brawn sponsor Virgin became title sponsor and Virgin Racing was born

Virgin Racing

With Cosworth engines, Xtrac gearboxes and drivers Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi Virgin Racing embarked on their first F1 season. The VR01 chassis was the first ever F1 designed entirely using CFD, with designer Nick Wirth believing computer simulations were sufficient to not need expensive wind tunnel testing.

Inevitably the team had reliability issues early on and they also discovered the fuel tank on the car wasn't sufficiently large enough to allow the team to complete full race distance. Wirth Research got a dispensation from the FIA to homologate a new chassis and by Spain both cars finished the race.

The team regularly finished races but barely troubled the mid-field. By seasons end the team were placed 12th and last in the Constructors Championship based on a count back of minor placing’s having managed a highest finish of 14th.

2011

Russian carmaker Marussia have taken a controlling interest in the team for 2011 and Belgian Jerome d’Ambrosio replaces Lucas di Grassi. With the VR02 chassis Virgin will be hoping to move further up the grid in 2011.

 

[Greenlantern101]

Thats great news for them. Some much needed money. New livery looks good.

 

[RasputinLives]

Andyoak I think it probably does!

cider_and_toast I have to admit I have no clue! however it might be irrelevant as Andy King has stated that they are discussing with new technical director Bob Bell and other new team on whether to bring out the 2015 car or just concentrate on getting the 2016 car ready.

King's exact quote was "we'd like to bring out the 2015 car but we need to listen to the advice of our new team. After all you don't buy a dog and bark yourself"

Fabio Leimer by the way has gone on record as saying he'll be driving some races later in the season......I'll believe that when I see it as I still think we'll see Jordan King in the car.

 

[FB]

Manor to be taken over by US investors?

Two U.S. teams on the F1 grid in 2016? It could happen

 

[cider_and_toast]

If it was Manor then I would say given the close future ties with Ferrari and Haas, I would expect any new Manor car to also have a new engine, the question is Honda or Renault?

 

[Dash Racing]

Of the two, unless Honda changes their tune for next year, it's most likely to be a Renault - Renault may be looking for a new customer anyway, given the big fallout they're in the midst of with Red Bull. However, I wouldn't dismiss the possibility of a Ferrari engine, if they can negotiate something to get a closer relationship with Haas F1 and Ferrari.

 

[FB]

Now this is interesting, wonder where this would leave Red Bull's desire for Merc engines.

Mercedes in talks with Manor over supplying engines - Read Motorsport

 

[teabagyokel]

Red Bull can desire what they like; assuming a modicum of sense Mercedes are not giving them engines.

 

[soccerman17]

I have a feeling Red Bull might end up the odd one out here. Most likely leaving Renault, Mercedes probably won't supply them, and I'm pretty sure they don't want to be customer teams of Ferrari or Honda. Maybe they can coax another manufacturer into the sport?

 

[FB]

More rumours about Audi on the web, I just can't see why they would want to get involved in F1 although they are getting a spanking from Porsche in the WEC.

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

I bet their cars have really nice interiors though.

 

[Il_leone]

Red Bull have a binding contract with Renault which states they are the No 1 de facto team. Force India they've had their money problems so it would not surprise me that they could switch to Renault instead

Williams have a 7 year deal with Mercs.

Manor its anyone's guess which engines they would use given Honda could give engines along with one of the junior Mclaren drivers, Ferrari - very unlikely given they failed to pay for the engines

Mercedes - it makes sense given that the Stuttgart company they've had a policy to develop young drivers and at the moment they don't have an out and out junior team to do this. They will not get involved in any squabble Red Bull an

 

[Il_leone]

Well Honda are down the road from Red Bull but Ron will make sure they are not de facto No 1 something he was angry with Whitmarsh about

As with Manor ...will they want Honda engines with Vandoorn/ Magnussen or Merc engines with Wehrlien?

How much influence does Justin King have on which driver they choose because I thought he wanted his son in F1?

 

[RasputinLives]

Jordan King has earned enough 'points' to qualify for a super licence now so I fully expect to see him in a Manor next year.

Will Stevens survival depends on cash flow and engine I reckon. If its stick with Ferrari then he'll stay but if they jump to Merc then I can see Ocon being put with the team.

 

[Il_leone]

RasputinLives Would you not want Van Doorn in F1 as it seems Mclaren would be willing to give Manor Honda engines apparently as well

 

[RasputinLives]

I would love to see him in F1 but I doubt it will be in a Manor because I don't think they'll risk a Honda engine.

Having brought in Bob Bell and other technical staff they've taken the decision to run the mix match 2014/15 car all year so they can push on and develop the 2016 runner. With the funds secure for next year its there big chance to be ready, test as much as possible and maybe just maybe jump on the back of that midfield and secure the funds for the year after. They are not going to risk that on a Honda engine.

Lets remember that had they had the funds to finish building their 2015 car and had the new Ferrari engine they'd prob have made that leap this year.

I think they'll stick with Ferrari.

 

[Il_leone]

Manor with Ferrari will depend who are the other customers are now it appears Red Bull will want to be a customer and thus Sauber and Manor will have lower priority

Therefore I think Manor will go with a Honda engine which probably will have to be cheaper. As rubbish the engine is I get the feeling Honda will have to supply another team to claw back more money and find out more about their engines

 

[RasputinLives]

I'd be surprised if Manor took the risk.

To be honest though if Manor do go for Honda I don't think it'll mean Kmag or Vandoorne. It'll probably mean Matsushita.

Honda and Mclaren are different entities with different agendas.

 

[Il_leone]

I think Mclaren will point out to Honda a GP2 champion is better for the sponsors than unknown driver from Japan. I think Mclaren will have more influence and tell Honda to take F1 seriously

 

[RasputinLives]

I think Honda will say we'll do what we like thank you very much and worry about your own sponsors because us suppyling engines to another team is actually nothing to do with you at all. We have a contract to work with you and supply engines to you we are not the same organisation or business. Get out of my office Mr Dennis.

Lets remember Honda pretty much set up a whole seperate team to keep Sato's career going and Matsushita is their current driver of choice.

 

[Il_leone]

Maybe they will field both