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F1 Belgian GP: Haryanto accepts reserve driver role at Manor

Rio Haryanto has taken up the offer from Manor Racing to become a reserve driver after losing his race seat due to a lack of funding.

Manor confirmed yesterday that Esteban Ocon will replace Haryanto alongside Pascal Wehrlein in the team's driver line-up for the second half of the F1 season.

The highly-rated 19-year-old, who acts as Renault reserve driver while being managed by Mercedes, will make his race debut at Spa-Francorchamps while Haryanto will remain inside the team fold having accepted the offer of becoming a reserve driver.

"Rio will be available to deputise should either race driver be unable to take part in an event," a team statement confirmed. "He will also be immersed in engineering meetings and PR activities, as the team continues its support for his racing ambitions."

Haryanto will become Manor's third reserve driver for the remainder of the 2016 campaign alongside Alexander Rossi and Jordan King.

Zdroj: crash.net