Marussia’s last-gasp UAE effort fails

Editor

Marussia won’t be on the Abu Dhabi grid after all with the team’s last-ditch effort coming to nothing.

The Banbury-based squad were hoping to follow in Caterham’s footsteps and race in the season finale in the United Arab Emirates despite going into administration.

More than 200 staff were made redundant two weeks ago when they ceased trading, but talk that they could be on the grid intensified on Wednesday when Ferrari engineers, assigned to work on the engines, were seen in Marussia kit at the Yas Marina Circuit.

However, the team have failed in their bid to make the grid.

“Devastated for everyone involved at Marussia in the past 24 hours that the hard work trying to get to Abu Dhabi didn’t work out as we hoped,” driver Max Chilton confirmed on Twitter on Wednesday.

A source added to Press Association Sport: “The talks were serious enough, and a serious offer was made that led to the need to make preparations.

“For the last 72 hours there has been very little sleep, with people talking all through the night.

“This morning it was serious enough that some action plans were put in place, and we were hoping to get over the line.

“Sadly, it hasn’t happened. By 5.30-6pm it was game over.”