‘Manor will run in Malaysia’

Manor Marussia team principal John Booth has assured F1's powers that be that his team will run in Malaysia.

After confirming at the last minute that they received financial backing and plan to compete in the season-opening race in Australia, the team made their way Down Under with the rest of the F1 community.

However, their drivers Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi failed to take part in practice, qualifying or the race and the team were asked to do some explaining by the race stewards.

Although they escaped punishment, F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone has warned that they will have to pay their own freight bill, adding they had "zero" intention of race in Melbourne.

The team, though, are confident they will compete in the second race of the season in Malaysia.

When asked if his drivers will take part in Friday practice at Sepang, Booth is quoted as saying by Sky Sports F1: "Absolutely. We're in a massively different place now than where we were at the start of last week.

"The progress was colossal, just not quite enough, but now we'll get to Malaysia on Monday, start setting up at the circuit on Tuesday, and for sure we'll be ready to run on Friday."