F1: Manor gets FIA entry list leeway boost

Manor's hopes of making it onto the 2015 Formula 1 grid have been boosted by the FIA making clear it will keep the entry list open as long as possible.

The former Marussia squad's plan to race in Melbourne next month appeared to suffer a setback last week when Force India voted against a concession that would have allowed teams to run a modified 2014 car for the start of the season. But although that decision has made Manor's job more difficult, it has not put it off totally. The team is still hoping it can get a 2015-specification car ready in time for one of the early races.

Manor's hopes of rejoining the grid require the FIA to confirm its entry when the final list for the 2015 F1 championship is published. The team has already paid its entry fee, but its position was subject to confirmation in the provisional list that was published in December.

Final entry lists are normally published well ahead of the season, but the FIA has not yet finalized the current one and is holding back until it knows what Manor is doing. Since the strategy group vote, the FIA has been in discussions with Manor regarding how best to proceed as it seeks assurances that losing the hoped-for 2014 car concession has not destroyed its hopes of a return.

It is understood that Manor has told the FIA it can get an interim 2015 car ready for the early stages of the campaign – and maybe even for the first race of the season in Australia. To secure valuable commercial rights income, the team needs to be racing by the Bahrain Grand Prix on April 19 at the latest.

Discussions between the team and governing body are continuing to ensure that Manor has the technical and financial infrastructure needed to compete permanently. Those talks are set to run into next week and once the FIA is satisfied with the Manor situation it will confirm its entry.

Manor is planning to come out of bankruptcy administration on Feb. 19 as part of the push to get back on the F1 grid.

Originally on Autosport.com