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Indonesian joy as Haryanto secures F1 spot
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RIO Haryanto will become Indonesia’s first Formula One driver after signing a deal with Manor Racing, the back-of-the-grid team announced yesterday.
The 23-year-old Haryanto will make his race debut in Australia when the F1 season starts on March 20.
“Melbourne will be a huge moment for me, my country, supporters and fans and I want to thank everyone who’s been with me since I started in single seaters; 2016 is my chance to reward that faith and represent Asia in F1,” Haryanto said.
His signing as teammate to German rookie Pascal Wehrlein completes the grid for the 2016 season. Haryanto, who finished fourth in the GP2 feeder series last season with three race wins, will be the third Southeast Asian driver to compete in Formula One since the championship started in 1950.
Haryanto was already the first Indonesian to drive a Formula One car, having tested with Manor’s predecessor Virgin Racing in 2010.
The Indonesian’s arrival in F1 spells disappointment for Britain’s Will Stevens, American Alexander Rossi and Spaniard Roberto Merhi, who all raced for Manor last season when the team was known as Marussia.
“Rio’s huge following in Indonesia is great for the team and for F1. They are keen to see him on the grid and we’re confident that we’ll see him enjoying some exciting battles in the year ahead,” Manor owner Stephen Fitzpatrick said.
Manor failed to score a point in 2015 but has rung the changes since then, with new management and drivers as well as Mercedes engines in place of aging Ferrari ones. Haryanto’s place in the team had depended on raising funds in Indonesia with Manor seeking 15 million euros (US$16.71 million), according to local media.
The driver has been backed by state-owned Indonesian oil and gas company Pertamina but it was not immediately known how much they had contributed towards securing the drive.
Meanwhile, Red Bull’s team principal Christian Horner expects “a tough year in the early part of the year.” “But we are expecting to make serious strides during the season,” he said.
The four-time constructors’ champion has fallen behind Mercedes, Ferrari and Williams, coming off its first season since 2008 without a race win.
Team owner Dietrich Mateschitz has been threatening to withdraw Red Bull from F1.
“Our focus is on engineering ourselves out of the situation we have been in, into a competitive situation,” Horner said.
2016-17 F1 driver lineups
MERCEDES
Lewis Hamilton (Britain)
Nico Rosberg (Germany)
FERRARI
Sebastian Vettel (Germany)
Kimi Raikkonen (Finland)
WILLIAMS
Felipe Massa (Brazil)
Valtteri Bottas (Finland)
RED BULL
Daniel Ricciardo (Australia)
Daniil Kvyat (Russia)
FORCE INDIA
Nico Hulkenberg (Germany)
Sergio Perez (Mexico)
RENAULT
Jolyon Palmer (Britain)
Kevin Magnussen (Denmark)
TORO ROSSO
Carlos Sainz (Spain)
Max Verstappen (Netherlands)
MANOR RACING
Pascal Wehrlein (Germany)
Rio Haryanto (Indonesia)
SAUBER
Marcus Ericsson (Sweden)
Felipe Nasr (Brazil)
MCLAREN
Fernando Alonso (Spain)
Jenson Button (Britain)
HAAS F1
Romain Grosjean (France)
Esteban Gutierrez (Mexico)
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