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Rio Haryanto at the
controls of Manor Marussia F1's "Speedy Chariot" during the recent
Abu Dhabi tyre test. (Image source: f1fanatic.co.uk)
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Will we learn anything overly useful from the Abu
Dhabi Post-season test? Highly doubtful, especially since its basically built
around Pirelli getting one last chance to test new rubber compounds and tyre
construction for 2016...
Constructor’s: Team/Chassis/Engine)
(8) Sauber F1 Team
Chassis: C34
Engine: Ferrari
Points: 36
(Car No. + Driver)
9. Marcus Ericsson
12. R-Felipe Nasr; Brazil
Reserve
Driver) Raffaele Marciello
(R Denotes Rookie Driver)
NOTES
According to Adam Cooper, Sauber was set to
run regular race driver Marcus Ericsson and the totally unknown to Mwah Adderly Fong,
a 25yr old Hong Kong driver currently contesting the GP3 championship, along
with being the reigning Audi R8 LMS Cup champion at the 12hr Post Abu Dhabi
Pirelli tyre test.
As Fong, who has ties to Vancouver, BC and
apparently having dabbled briefly in Indy Lights, is currently a Lotus F1
Development Driver and has run once before for Sauber during last year's Abu
Dhabi Grands Prix Friday's (Free Practice) FP1 session. As Fong primarily aims to extend his FIA Superlicense
by running the minimum 300 kilometres, while Ericsson finished a close third
behind "Works" Scuderia Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen.
Results
3rd) Marcus Ericsson Sauber 1m44.480s
50-laps
13th) Adderly Fong Sauber 1m48.439s 57-laps
(9) McLaren Honda
Chassis:
MP4-30
Engine: Honda
Points: 27
14.
Fernando Alonso
22.
Jenson Button
Reserve Driver) Stoffel Vandoorne
NOTES
McLaren's season was so traumatic upon its
regular race drivers with the woefully underperforming Hondre' PU that they
decided to run just reigning GP2 champion and 2016 Reserve Driver Stoffel Vandoorne
at the test, who rewarded the team by being P1, an unfamiliar position this
year for the once mighty Woking based F1 Constructor. As hopefully this is a sign
of things to come for next year?
Results
P1) Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren 1m44.103s 99-laps
Meanwhile McLaren
Supremo, Thy Ronster', nee Ron Dennis is sounding full of his usual boastful
self, proclaiming the Organization's set to make a massive step forward! While
gleefully intoning although he knows where the Motorhome will be parked next
year, the cars will be further up the grid...
(10) Manor-Marussia F1 Team
Chassis:
MR03B
Engine: Ferrari (2014-Spec)
Points: 0
28) R-Will Stevens; UK
98) R-Roberto Merhi; Spain
53) R-Alexander Rossi*; USA
Reserve Driver) Fabio Leimer
Development Driver) Jordan King
(R Denotes Rookie Driver)
NOTES
Although
Manor had originally announced its intentions to skip the test, presumably due
to the added costs, the team subsequently decided to run 22yr old Indonesian
Rio Haryanto and Development Driver Jordan King, son of Justin King, who was
announced as the team's interim Chairman this past March.
As
both King & Haryanto currently
compete in GP2, with the latter's apparently sniffing around for one of the
team's two 2016 race seats - in what could be an audition for next year? As
Scuttlebutt suggests he's got plenty of Dinero courtesy of his state's Oil
conglomerate. Although now approaching the "Century Mark," i.e.;
100-starts in GP2, currently sitting at 91-starts he'll need some generous
backing to move up the ladder.
Manor
is the only F1 team currently to have not announced their 2016 drivers,
although Will Stevens is hopeful of retaining his position with the team,
whilst perhaps Mercedes inquiry about the Ferrari Haas F1 "B-Team" alignment is to
see how far they can go with Manor along with inserting reigning DTM champion
and F1 test driver Pascal Wehrlein, eh?
As it seems those "Story-makers" on Zed
Internetz are casting about on any gossip possible regarding the final two F1
seats available...
Naturally,
the Manor Marussia's were running in their typical Tail-gunner Charlie
position, especially since they're the only team campaigning year old PU's! As Haryanto,
having enjoyed his most competitive campaign in GP2 in his fourth season - En
route to scoring a Hat-trick 'O victories, including his maiden GP2 win, has
previously participated in Young Drivers
test for Manor's earlier incarnations as Virgin and Marussia in 2010, 2012.
Hence,
Haryanto's third crack at a season ending test session saw the promising Indonesian
finish one place ahead of King, with the 21yr old Brit' getting his debutante
outing in F1 machinery - Whilst both drivers prevailed from damaging the equipment.
Results
15th) Rio Haryanto Manor 1m49.593s 56-laps
16th) Jordan King Manor 1m49.661s 59-laps
16th) Jordan King Manor 1m49.661s 59-laps