Stevens keen to build on ‘positive signs’ at Manor

Will Stevens hopes Manor can “get in a good rhythm” at the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix after team-mate Roberto Merhi completed the team’s first race distance in Malaysia.

While the two Ferrari-powered MR03s had been confined to their garage all weekend in Melbourne due to a raft of technical issues, both Manor drivers could actually take to the track at Sepang, albeit only one car at a time.

Having suffered a fuel system issue, Stevens was unable to take part in qualifying and consequently had to watch his Spanish team-mate make his Grand Prix debut aboard the surviving Manor.

The 23-year-old Briton still takes satisfaction from Merhi reaching the chequered flag and hopes he can start his first race for the ex-Marussia squad in China, a place where Stevens has never competed before.

"There were some positive signs at Sepang with the running I was able to achieve, so I’m looking forward to building on that here in China,” said the ex-Formula Renault 3.5 race winner.

“It’s been good to have the data from Roberto’s race there for the team to work with and I’m hoping that we can start to get into a good rhythm from this weekend.

“It’s always good to tackle a circuit I’ve never raced at before and this one has some nice challenges for both car and driver, so it will be good to experience those and to start getting to grips with the car a little more.”

Click here for Chris Medland's Chinese Grand Prix preview. 

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