Stevens expects Manor to run on Friday

Will Stevens says he expects Manor to run during Friday practice for the Malaysian Grand Prix having failed to do so in Australia.

Manor was unable to get either car out on track during the Australian Grand Prix weekend, with the team satisfying the FIA that it had done everything in its power to try and do so. Having yet to complete a lap in the team’s car, when asked if he will be running on Friday, Stevens replied: “That’s the plan certainly.

“Clearly we’re in a much better position than we were in Melbourne so that’s the plan heading in to the weekend, but we’ll take each session as it comes over the weekend.

“The main thing for the weekend is we just want to take it one step at a time and work our way through the weekend. Like I said, we’re in a much better position than we were in Melbourne, so the main aim is to obviously stick to the run plan and get out and see where we’re at. In terms of expectations we aren’t setting ourselves any, so we’ll take it easy at the start and then see where we end up.”

And Stevens said the progress made by Manor in Melbourne gives him confidence that the situation will be much better at Sepang.

"We knew heading into Melbourne we were going to take it one step at a time, and everyone here did the best they could to get us out on track. That has continued throughout the last two weeks, and things move quickly in Formula One, which is why we've arrived here in a lot better position than two weeks ago.

"Clearly Melbourne was a disappointing weekend, not only for me but for the team as well, but now we're back and raring to get going."

Asked if he would be disappointed not to run at all on Friday, Stevens replied: ”Yeah, of course. I’m not going to lie, and I'm sure the team will be as well. But I know everything that is going on, we're going to plan and I'm sure everything will be fine."

Click here for F1i's Malaysian Grand Prix preview

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter