Manor have also signed Dave Ryan and Nikolas Tombazis this winter
Monday 25 January 2016 12:29, UK
Pat Fry has become the latest high-profile arrival at Manor as the backmarkers target tangible on-track progression during 2016.
The Englishman has been signed as an engineering consultant ahead of the F1 season which starts on March 20 and his recruitment is another eye-catching statement of intent from the Banbury-based outfit.
Earlier this month Manor announced they had signed Nikolas Tombazis as chief aerodynamicist while Dave Ryan, formerly of McLaren, joined late last year as Racing Director.
Fry and Tombazis have been out of F1 since being sacked by Ferrari last December.
"We are extremely fortunate to have Pat on board to help us hit the ground running with our exciting new technical package," said Ryan.
Why no drivers?
Although Manor failed to score a point last season and remain the only team on the grid for 2016 yet to confirm their driver line-up, the backmarkers have become an increasingly attractive proposition this winter. After running year-old Ferrari engines last year in a revised 2014 car, the team will be powered by Mercedes V6s in 2016 while Ryan, Fry and Tombazis, reporting to technical director John McQuilliam, will form an impressive backroom unit.
At least half-a-dozen drivers are believed to be in the frame to fill the team's vacant seats. Will Stevens, Roberto Merhi and Alex Rossi all drove for the team last year while a leaked letter in December suggested that 23-year-old Rio Haryanto was on the brink of being appointed in return for $15m sponsorship money from the Indonesian government.
Kevin Magnussen has also been linked with the team despite holding talks with Renault amid ongoing uncertainty about the position of Pastor Maldonado. But with Renault warning they face 'a transitional year', it is not inconceivable that Magnussen could judge Manor as a better proposition for 2016.
Moving on up?
The car Manor expect to launch at Barcelona for the start of winter testing next month will be the team's first new charger in two years. "The aim is to bring performance to the car with effect from the Barcelona tests, then translate that to the race track in Melbourne, to ensure we make the strongest possible start to 2016 and have a good basis for development in the early part of the season," confirmed Ryan.
"The team has impressive plans and is investing in all the right areas to achieve its on-track ambitions," added Tombazis.
After two years on F1's breadline, the target for 2016 appears to be progression up the grid. Sauber will be the first team in Manor's sights following the Swiss outfit's announcement they will not debut their new 2016 car until the second Barcelona test - leaving them with just four days of on-track running before the new season begins in Australia.
Manor, meanwhile, still have drivers to appoint and management vacancies to fill. Although Fry, Tombazis and Ryan have all arrived at the team since the resignations of chief executive Graeme Lowdon and president John Booth in November, Manor remain bereft of a team principal after Alex Wurz - another former McLaren employee - turned down the role.
The first Barcelona test starts on Monday February 22 and the Sky Sports F1 Digital team will be providing live commentary from dawn until dusk on all four days of both Barcelona tests while Sky Sports News HQ will also deliver live updates from trackside.
