Manor F1 Team driver, Will Stevens achieved his objective of ending Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix as the lead driver for the team when he took the chequered flag in eighteenth place.
Stevens had not finished ahead of team-mate Alexander Rossi in any of the previous four races the two had competed together, but was relieved to finally get one over on the American racer.
“I think the focus on race balance has really paid off for me this weekend,” said Stevens. “It wasn’t an easy race because of having to look after the rear tyres, but I knew that if I could get past Alex I would be able to pull away.
“I’m pleased to regain the advantage over my team-mate and bring the car home in 18th place. Yet another two-car finish for the team, which is good news, so we go into the final round in Abu Dhabi eager to end season on a high note.”
In yet another two-car finish for the team, the thirteenth of the season, team-mate Rossi had to settle for nineteenth place after struggling with the balance of his car throughout the Grand Prix.
“My first stint wasn’t so bad, but in the second and third stints the balance was terrible and I was losing so much time with understeer,” said Rossi. “Will getting past was inevitable and I was pretty resigned to that fact.
“It’s a shame, because the early part of the weekend was stronger for me. I would have liked my final F1 round of 2015 to have a better outcome, but I look back at the five races I’ve had since Japan and I’m pretty happy overall.
“It’s been a totally positive experience and I know I’ve given it everything I’ve got. So now we wait and see what the future brings, but I want to thank the team for this incredible opportunity to show what I can do and I hope I’ve done that.”
With Williams Martini Racing driver Felipe Massa being disqualified from the Grand Prix, due to exceeding the revised parameters for tyres, Stevens was promoted to seventeenth and Rossi eighteenth.
