Following the agreement of a multi-year deal, Manor Marussia will race with Mercedes-Benz power from 2016 season onwards. Since the introduction of the new V6 Power Units in 2014, the Mercedes-Benz powered cars have set the competitive benchmark in the sport, claiming a total of 27 wins and 2,208 world championship points.
Under the agreement, Manor will be supplied with current-year Power Units throughout the term of the agreement. Furthermore, in addition to this Manor will resume their prior technical partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering; which according to team principal John Booth: “Combined with Mercedes-Benz Power Units, we are very excited about the strength of our new powertrain package and what it means for the long-term future of our team.”
The long term future of the team is a strong focal point for Manor considering this time last year they were on the verge of having to leave Formula One, but the points scored by Jules Bianchi in Monaco and the help from current engine supplier Scuderia Ferrari is ultimately what saved them.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Scuderia Ferrari for their support for our team over the past two seasons. In 2014, together we shared in the momentous occasion of the team’s first points and in 2015 Ferrari supported us to a degree that was above and beyond the requirements of our partnership agreement. Quite simply, we could not have returned to the grid without them pushing extremely hard to support the MR03B, at the same time as focusing on their own 2015 package.”
Toto Wolff, head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport added: “Mercedes-Benz has a clear Formula One philosophy based around our works Silver Arrows team and supplying benchmark Power Units to independent customer teams. We believe this approach provides Formula One with greater strength in depth and ensures a deeper level of competitiveness throughout the field.
“In anticipation of Renault’s takeover of the Lotus F1 Team, we are pleased to announce Manor Marussia as a new customer of Mercedes-Benz. It is a tenacious team with a fantastic competitive spirit, and we are all excited to see what step forward they can make next year with their new car coupled with the Mercedes-Benz Hybrid Power Unit.”
