Ferrari beats McLaren to Manor's door!

Ferrari looks to have beaten McLaren-Honda to the reborn Manor team's door.

Earlier, we reported that with the former Marussia team now exiting administration, McLaren could play a role in the resurrection of the backmarker.

Writing on his blog f1-insider, German correspondent Ralf Bach had said Ron Dennis was keen to emulate Ferrari's new alliance with the 2016 entrant Haas in terms of having a de-facto 'B-team'.

Bach said Manor might nominate Woking as the venue for its wind tunnel programme, while the McLaren supremo is reportedly "trying to convince Honda" to supply the team with engines.

But Ferrari, despite being owed millions by Marussia, appears to have beaten McLaren-Honda to Manor's door.

The fabled Maranello team's new boss Maurizio Arrivabene told reporters on Friday that, just like last year, Marussia will in 2015 be supplied customer models of the 2014 'power unit'.

"There is nothing in writing at the moment," said the Ferrari chief in Barcelona, "but our answer at the moment is yes - (the) 2014 (engine)," said Arrivabene.