By now Yuhs already know that our Tail-gunner
Charlie's, the Minnowesqe Manor Marussia F1 Team will get an engine makeover
next year, which should give them a step-up power wise with the advent of the
A-L-L conquering Mercedes Benz PU bolted to their backside. Not to mention
Williams running gear and suspension components - for which perhaps Manor will
be nipping at Team Willy's' heals next year. Or perhaps force India's?
Naturally this association will lead to all
sorts of speculation over who Manor Marussia's drivers will be next year? As
the interesting part of the puzzle to Mwah is the tiny mention of the team
utilizing PETRONAS lubricants in the deal.
Especially with scuttlebutt suggesting that current
GP2 competitor Rio Haryanto
could be in the frame? As the 22yr old Indonesian driver
reportedly has a sizeable Dowry from Pertamina, the State owned Oil conglomerate,
which in the past would make me think it would preclude him. Yet the hopefully soon
to be Renault Works team, currently Lotus is quite happy taking Pastor Maldonado's Venezuelan
PDVSA money, so who knows?
Also lurking in the shadows is current DTM
points leader and Mercedes reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein, who could be part of
the Silver Arrows package at Manor next year, although Toto Wolff continues
playing this prospect down, but if the 21yr old German Birthday Boy goes onto
win this year's DTM crown - which he did at Hockenheim over the weekend, then
why not? All of which could make current drivers Will Stevens and Alexander
Rossi's tenure remarkably short...
Meanwhile,
Manor Marussia F1 President Graeme Lowdon feels
pretty confident that next season's Formula 1 newcomer Haas F1 will score
points immediately.
Whilst Gene Haas has apparently claimed his Formula
1 operation will cost relatively the same amount as his current NASCAR
operation, albeit with half the cars...
