Wehrlein: Manor Racing Now Competing with Sauber and Renault
Pascal Wehrlein says Manor is no longer Formula One’s clear backmarker after finishing ahead of Sauber and Renault in China, with all three teams yet to score points in 2016.
Manor Racing’s Pascal Wehrlein believes the team has closed the gap to rivals Sauber and Renault after finishing 18th at the Chinese Grand Prix, ahead of cars from both those teams in a race that saw no retirements.
Wehrlein, a Mercedes-backed rookie, pointed to the result as evidence that Manor is no longer isolated at the back of the Formula One field. Last season, Manor was often the last team on the grid, but the 2016 campaign has seen the order at the rear tighten.
In Shanghai, Wehrlein crossed the line ahead of Esteban Gutierrez’s Haas, Felipe Nasr’s Sauber and Jolyon Palmer’s Renault. With every car finishing the race, the result was not down to attrition but to Manor’s improved pace relative to its direct competitors.
Manor’s progress in the 2016 season
Despite the step forward, Wehrlein acknowledged that Manor still faces a major task to regularly challenge the midfield. The team, along with Sauber and Renault, has yet to score a point after the opening three rounds of the 2016 championship. Wehrlein stressed the need for further development to maintain momentum against teams with greater resources.
Manor’s improved performance comes as Renault returns as a works team and Sauber continues to battle financial pressures. The three teams are now locked in a close fight at the back, with small gains in development likely to determine who escapes the bottom of the standings first.
- Manor finished ahead of Sauber and Renault in China despite all cars finishing.
- Sauber and Renault, both former podium contenders, are struggling with pace and reliability.
- Manor’s Mercedes power unit is seen as an asset in the fight against its direct rivals.
What’s at stake for Manor, Sauber and Renault
With all three teams yet to score, the battle for tenth in the constructors’ championship carries financial significance. The difference in prize money between finishing last and securing a higher position can be crucial for smaller teams’ survival and development budgets. For Manor, a single points finish could secure its future, while Sauber and Renault are under pressure to justify their recent investments and, in Renault’s case, a major return to the sport.
