Rio Haryanto could be on the Formula One grid driving for Manor during the 2016 season after the Indonesian government agreed to cover any shortfall in his sponsorship according to PlanetF1.
In December the Minister of Youth and Sport Imam Nahrawi released a letter from Manor, in this letter the team had requested the services of Haryanto if he provided 15 million euros in sponsorship to drive for the team. Haryanto already had a guaranteed 5.2 million euros in sponsorship from the state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina, who have backed Haryanto throughout his junior career.
At a meeting in Jakarta on Friday, it was agreed that the Indonesian government will cover the shortfall in Haryanto’s sponsorship so he can make the step up to Formula One with Manor, a team he has had links and been involved in since 2010 when the team was Virgin Racing. Since then Haryanto has taken part in four tests whilst continuing on with his GP2 career finishing a career-high fourth in last year’s drivers championship with three wins.
It is not understood who Haryanto will replace at Manor if he is to get the drive with both Merhi and Stevens out of contract and Rossi waiting in the wings it’s looking like a four-way fight for two seats.
