2016 Results – Manor: A point that’s not enough

The important figures

Place in the constructors’ standings: 11th

Pole: 0

Victory: 0

Podium: 0

Point: 1

Best result: 10th (Wehrlein: Austria)

Best qualification: 12th (Wehrlein: Austria)

An Acquisition and Hopes

At the start of the season, the Manor team was on the verge of becoming the scarecrow of the grid. With a Mercedes engine in top form and financial stability finally regained thanks to the takeover by Stephen Fitzpatrick, the British team arrived in Australia for the first Grand Prix of the season with ambitions.

Unfortunately, the leaders of Manor will quickly come back down to earth and realize the magnitude of the task that awaits them throughout the season. If the power unit delivers the expected horsepower, the glaring lack of downforce from the chassis will become a recurring headache for the engineers.

Only a miraculous 13th place in Bahrain, credited to Mercedes protege Pascal Wehrlein, would brighten an otherwise gloomy start to the year. On the other side of the garage, Rio Haryanto is at the wheel, thanks in part to significant financial support from his Indonesian sponsors. The native of Surakarta did not rise from the back of the grid and recorded a 15th place in Monaco as his best result of the season before being replaced after the German Grand Prix. He made way for the other Mercedes protege: Frenchman Esteban Ocon.

Wehrlein achieves the feat in Austria

At mid-season, Manor finally sees the light at the end of the tunnel. During an Austrian Grand Prix remembered for the last-lap collision between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, Pascal Wehrlein achieved the feat of getting his MRT05 into the top 10, thus offering his team their first point of the season.

This result was built from the qualifications on Saturday, with a solid 12th place for the German. The wet weather conditions certainly helped the 22-year-old driver, but his progress and consistency in the race left a strong impression. The point earned at the end of the Grand Prix is a well-deserved reward for a driver with a reputation as a future winner and for the Manor team, which enjoys particular sympathy in the paddock.

Thrilled for Pascal & our whole team. That sure was a special day at #AustrianGP. #AutosportAwards #rookieoftheyear pic.twitter.com/t2WjyHtsfT

— Manor Racing (@ManorRacing) 4 décembre /f1/actualite/21627-bilan-de-la-saison-2016-votez-pour-votre-top-10-.html

Manor will hold the 10th place in the constructors’ championship for a long time, synonymous with financial reward for the upcoming season. But Felipe Nasr’s Brazilian feat in his Sauber in Brazil will dash the team’s last hopes. Especially since, with a glaring lack of development, Manor’s engineers are unable to provide their drivers with a single-seater capable of fighting for top positions.

The arrival of Esteban Ocon, replacing Rio Haryanto from the Belgian Grand Prix, won’t change the situation even though Pascal Wehrlein will be somewhat challenged by the Frenchman, particularly in qualifying. Indeed, Ocon will outpace the German in the transfer market, by joining Force India, the 4th… strongest team on the grid.

Is stability undermined by a new acquisition?

It is well known that in Formula 1, financial stability, as well as the stability of the team members, is crucial to its success. Stephen Fitzpatrick seems to have already resigned from his role as the owner of Manor and is already searching for a new buyer.

The American Tavo Hellmund is in the running to partially buy the team and potentially turn it into an entity that will race under the stars-and-stripes colors. The man behind the return of Formula 1 to the United States and Mexico is in advanced discussions to invest heavily and create a credible project for 2017. But as the year ends, no contract has been signed yet and uncertainty prevails.

Which drivers for 2017?

Manor is currently the only team without any drivers under contract for 2017. Esteban Ocon has already moved on to new pastures, seeking his first podium with Force India. It seems unlikely that Pascal Wehrlein will continue with the British team, especially since his name is on Toto Wolff’s shortlist to replace the retired Nico Rosberg at the top of the grid.

As a result, Rio Haryanto might make his return. The Indonesian driver has the advantage of having some experience with recent single-seaters and knowing the team well. Without being phenomenal and without creating any major exploits, he has nonetheless managed, on several occasions, to hold his own against Wehrlein. If he manages to gather an interesting budget, he will undoubtedly get another chance in the premier discipline of motorsport.

Felipe Nasr and Esteban Gutiérrez could also be interesting choices for the team. Especially since if Hellmund invests in Manor, having a South American driver would be an undeniable plus. In this game, the former Haas driver has the edge over a Nasr who has lost his main sponsor. However, deciding on the drivers should not be the priority for the coming weeks. Ultimately, the only certainty for Manor is having Mercedes power units in 2017, which is already a good point.

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