Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA has refunded the entry fee paid by the Manor team prior to their collapse in January to aid them in paying outstanding doubts.
The Banbury outfit’s future was plunged into doubt at the end of 2016 after points for Felipe Nasr in Brazil lifted Sauber up to ninth in the Constructors’ standings, overhauling Manor who had held that position since Pascal Wehrlein finished 10th in Austria.
With the loss of revenue from prize money, the parent company Just Racing Services Ltd. went into administration with final owner Stephen Fitzpatrick unable to agree to a deal with potential investors and eventually pulling out the entry on the week of the Australian Grand Prix.
The FIA confirmed the fee to take part in the 2017 season, believed to be just over $500,000, was given back as a “gesture to goodwill” to the remanents of the Manor team, Manor Grand Prix Racing Ltd., who had their assets sold off in an auction earlier this year.