Manor Marussia F1 Team’s 2015-spec car will not be ready until the summer break in August, according to team principal John Booth.
The ex-Marussia operation was saved over the winter by fresh investment, but is racing in 2015 with a modified version of last year’s car and a 2014 Ferrari engine.
Despite racing with limited resources at the beginning of the year, Manor has made great progress, and saw both of its cars finish the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend.
“Yes, a double finish last time out in China,” Booth said. “That was a major step forward for us. We ran every session on plan.
“Operationally we’re working as we were last year. So that step has been achieved.
“As for the 2015 car, our aim has always been for the August break, as with arriving in Australia it is a very aggressive target and will take a lot of achieving.
“But when we get back from these first four flyaway races we just really need to sit down and see if we can bring all the areas together that need bringing together to achieve that in that time frame.”
Booth also said that Manor was now financially stable after many months of uncertainty, and has a long-term plan to get the team moving back up the grid.
“We have a commercial plan that we’re comfortable is sustainable for our model,” Booth said. “We’re confident in the investors we have now or the owner we have now to take us forward over the next few year.”
Manor’s comeback story has been nothing short of sensational, and although it may stand little chance of scoring points in 2015, getting back on its feet and securing its long-term future remains the main target this season.
