Manor pleased to silence doubters

Manor sporting director Graeme Lowdon says the team has been pleased to silence its doubters after completing the last two races with both cars.

Having missed the whole of pre-season testing as it exited administration, Manor failed to run at all during the Australian Grand Prix weekend and then ran just one car at a time in Malaysia, with Will Stevens failing to qualify or start the race. The latter incident saw the team’s approach questioned by some of its rivals, to which Lowdon hit back at the time.

Following that criticism, Manor has completed both the Chinese and Bahrain grands prix with both cars reaching the finish and Lowdon told F1i the team has responded to its doubters in the best possible way.

“The post-Malaysia comments were just nonsense,” Lowdon said. “[In Bahrain] there was another team (McLaren) which didn’t take the start with two cars and I didn’t hear anybody questioning anything about the team. Every team is here on merit and they’re all part of the championship.

“I think some of the comments that were made are just the sort of comments I don’t understand. Yes, we’ve had a big challenge. I think it’s testament to the team and all the people involved that there’s a huge amount of progress being made. Certainly from our point of view we’re just focused on our team and getting on with what we can do.

“I think it’s a bit odd when you read some of those things, but it is what it is.”

Click here for a look at the brake-by-wire system which caused Mercedes problems in Bahrain

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