Sunday, 16 November 2014

Merhi has a valid contract to race for Caterham according to his father

(Florent Gooden DPPI for Renault Sport F1)

Roberto Merhi Sr, the father of Formula 3 driver Roberto Merhi has stated that his son has a valid contract with the Caterham F1 Team to race for the Leafield based outfit should one of the race drivers not fulfill their contractual obligations and as Sweden's Marcus Ericsson has severed ties with the team ahead of his move to the Sauber F1 Team in 2015, Merhi Sr expects his son will race in Abu Dhabi if the team do race there next weekend.

Speaking to Autosport, Merhi Sr stated:

'If there is a contract, they have got to obey the contract, and maybe be bound by it.' The team say they are going to race. I have heard some funny news about [who might be in the car].'

Merhi drove for the Caterham F1 Team in Free Practice 1 for the Italian and Russian Grand Prix with the Spaniard ending his session in Monza faster then Marcus Ericsson.

Despite Merhi's assertion that a contract is in place it remains unclear if the team in race in Abu Dhabi at all as although it was announced on Friday that the team would be travelling to Abu Dhabi for the season finale next weekend on the same day the workforce at the Leafield factory were informed that they are being made redundant.

There is a week to go until the final race at the Yas Marina circuit  and the Caterham F1 Team have a week remaining on their crowd funding project which has received financial pledges of £1,921,598 of the £2.35 million to get the team there. However with the staff been made redundant and having not been paid for since September it is looking increasingly unlikely that the team will travel to the season finale.

© Ben Johnston 2014

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