The Canadian Grand Prix and subsequent week has been pretty good for Roberto Merhi: he began to show a bit of genuine pace compared to his team mate Will Stevens in Formula One and he managed to pick up a podium for the underperforming Pons team in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series. Although new reserve driver Fabio Leimer was linked to a FP1 showing this weekend, it would appear that the Swiss driver will not get any time at Austria at least. Both Stevens and Merhi remain Manor’s two race drivers as the teams return back to Europe after their brief North American stint.
2015 Austrian Grand Prix Manor Preview
No. 28 Will Stevens
Form: 15/16/17/17/17
Stevens definitely looked a touch shaky at Montreal, and Romain Grosjean clattering into the side of him during the race certainly would not have helped. Stevens does have experience at the Red Bull Ring, and took points on two occasions for P1 Motorsports back in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series back in 2013. With Stevens’ advantage over his team mate seemingly shrinking by the race, he will need to find some pace if he is to overhaul him in the championship.
No. 98 Roberto Merhi
Form: 16/17/18/16/R
Roberto Merhi is a former winner here in the Formula Three series, taking two victories back in 2011 for Prema Powerteam. He has also raced here in DTM in the past, and is expected to race here again in Formula Renault 3.5 later in the year. He was running well ahead of Stevens at Montreal when a driveshaft failure forced him into his first Formula One retirement. However, with the Red Bull Ring circuit having some similar characteristics to the Montreal circuit, Merhi could well put one over his team mate again here this weekend.
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