Roberto Merhi back in Manor seat for Russian GP

Manor's Roberto Merhi admits he is eager to return to F1 action at the Russian Grand Prix for the first of his final two scheduled appearances of the 2015 season.

Having been an ever-present in one of Manor's two seats for the opening six months of the campaign, Merhi learned on the eve of last month's Singapore GP that American Alexander Rossi would take his seat for five of the final seven rounds.

Merhi, however, is returning for the two race weekends in Russia and Abu Dhabi that clash with the conclusion of the GP2 Series, which Rossi has opted to complete. The American is currently a distant second in the standings to Stoffel Vandoorne.

"I can't wait to be back in the car in Sochi this weekend," Merhi said after spending the last two races as Manor's reserve driver. "It's the first time I have raced here, but last year I took part in the FP1 session, so I have some understanding of the circuit characteristics and this will be helpful for me after a couple of races out of the car.

"I've continued to work very closely with the team during track sessions and engineering meetings, so I have a very good appreciation of the work we have completed and I'm eager to get stuck into the programme and to make the most of my two races, in Sochi and Abu Dhabi."

Speaking in Singapore, Manor president Graeme Lowdon praised Merhi for his mature handling of the situation.

"He wouldn't be a race driver if there wasn't an element of disappointment, but that said he is part of our team and he is doing a great job for the team and he is going to be back in the car again," Lowdon said.

"He is part of the team, he is professional driver and he is asked to drive a Formula 1 car as and when it is needed. I think he has managed it in a really professional way, he is a really great lad and he managed the situation quite well."

This weekend's Sochi race is the first since minnows Manor secured a coup by landing a supply of Mercedes engines for the 2016 season.