F1: Manor fails to run in qualifying

The revived Manor team will be absent from the first race of the Formula 1 season after failing to participate in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix. Manor will not attempt to seek dispensation from the stewards to be allowed start the race having not completed a lap all weekend.

Even if such an attempt was made, the stewards would be unlikely to take a request seriously given that neither Will Stevens nor Roberto Merhi have turned a wheel in the car.

The failure to run is a consequence of rushing to get its upgraded 2014 machine ready to race after the team was saved at the eleventh hour. Because all of its computer hard drives were wiped in anticipation of the planned sale of the team's assets, it was necessary to rebuild all of the electronic systems needed to run the car.

While this was not the only problem that the team encountered, it was the most time-consuming in terms of a solution. But despite this problem, the team is committed to competing and will make an attempt to race in the Malaysian Grand Prix in two weeks time.

Even if Manor had run, it is unclear whether the car, which is powered by a 2014-specification Ferrari engine, would have been quick enough to qualify.

On Friday, team CEO Graeme Lowdon said the team had no regrets that it attempted to run in Australia rather than getting the car up and running away from Melbourne.

"It's really important to be here," he said. "This is the championship that we're part of and we want to be part of it from the start, right the way through to the finish."

Originally on Autosport.com