Spanish youngster Roberto Merhi has expressed his disappointment after finishing as the last runner, rounding out the 2015 season.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be the last time Merhi will drive an F1 car this season as rookies Jordan King, son of Manor F1 co-owner Justin King, and the supremely talented Japanese driver Rio Haryanto will test with the team at the post-season Pirelli tyre test.
Merhi would bring home his car in 19th place behind teammate Will Stevens in an emotional weekend for the team, as they say, goodbye to long-standing Team Principal John Booth and the much-loved Sporting Director Graeme Lowdon, who are stepping down after a disagreement with owners Fitzpatrick and King.
Merhi stated, “A disappointing race for me today and not the finish to the season I was hoping for. We started from the pit lane after a mechanical set-up change during parc ferme conditions, so that made everything much more difficult for us. Then on the first stint I flat-spotted my tyres, but we’ve struggled with the brakes all weekend here.
Nonetheless, I have a lot of positives from my debut F1 season to reflect on, including our best race result of the season – P12 at Silverstone. I would like to thank the whole team, not only for this opportunity but for the hard work throughout the season. We’ve had some difficult times, but I am very proud of us. My thanks also to John and Graeme and I wish them well for the future. I am sure we have not seen the last of them!”
Merhi finishes the season as the top Manor driver, in 19th place, ahead of Alexander Rossi and Will Stevens, but his F1 commitments hampered his Formula Renault 3.5 campaign which he had to end prematurely, struggling against drivers such as Dean Stoneman and Oliver Rowland.
Manor Team Principal John Booth stated, “It has been fantastic to end the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with yet another two-car finish, incredibly our 14th of the season. That really is quite a reliability record, considering the MR03 and MR03Bs have completed a total of nearly 45,000kms during 2014 and 2015.
“Our race today largely characterised our season; both the team and the drivers worked their hearts out, but there was a limit to what could be achieved with the package we have had this year. Nonetheless, we have achieved so much more with what we have than should ever have been possible and I am extremely proud of every single member of the team for having done so.
