Mercedes-Benz to supply Manor F1 with engines from 2016 onwards

Discussions between Manor and Mercedes have resulted in an arrangement that will see the struggling F1 operation receive current specification Mercedes power units throughout the 2016 season.

The announcement will come as a huge boost to the British-based team, who made their debut on the F1 grid as Virgin Racing in 2010.

But the new deal, for Formula 1’s best engine, is likely to signal a major upturn in form.

The Manor Marussia F1 team will use Mercedes engines as of next year after agreeing a multi-year deal to switch from Ferrari.

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.”

“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”.

‘This new agreement should enable us to keep our supply roster at three customer teams for 2016, which is our ideal level in terms of technical and logistical capacity, ‘ said Mercedes High Performance Powertrains director Andy Cowell.

Renault and Lotus signed a letter of intent to complete the sale earlier this week, but the fact that their engines have now been given to Manor suggests that the deal is now certain to be finalised.

Wolff said that his team likes Manor a lot because “there is a competitive edge to the whole story if Manor gets the right chassis and the right engine it would be a pretty interesting narrative about how the team develops.”

Mercedes also provide engines to Force India and former champions Williams as well as the works team of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg but have baulked at supplying arch-rivals Red Bull. “They could probably raise [a budget] in the driver market if we were to supply engines as that could be an attractive offer for young drivers”.