Indonesia's Sports Ministry has expressed its dismay over Manor Racing's decision to drop Rio Haryanto from their 2016 driving with immediate effect.
Haryanto had been unable to find the rest of the sponsorship money required to keep him in the race seat, and his place will be taken by French teenager Esteban Ocon from the Belgian Grand prix onwards.
"The Sports Ministry is disappointed with the decision," said ministry spokesman Gatot Dewa Broto on Thursday.
"Manor's racing director Dave Ryan in February promised Rio Haryanto would race a full season in Formula One.
"Moreover, Manor's team director Abdulla Boulsien in June said Rio is part of the team's long term plan for at least two years."
However Broto conceded that Manor had already given Haryanto more time to come up with the outstanding money, believed to be around seven million euros, and that the team had even let Haryanto compete in the German Grand Prix despite the original tranche of sponsorship backing having run out.
"Manor asked Rio and his management to pay the remaining fees before the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 24 and it turned out that Manor gave another chance for Rio to race until German Grand Prix. Sports Ministry appreciates that."
Broto added that the Ministry itself had done what it could to help get the backing necessary to keep Haryanto in Formula One.
"We asked to use state budget to finance Rio, but it wasn't allowed by the lawmakers. The parliament fully supports Rio's involvement in F1 but using the state budget is not the option."
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