As the Manor Marussia no-show continues, the team has been summoned by the Melbourne stewards.

Suddenly, all the talk of the south Yorkshire team's phoenix-like rise from the ashes is looking a little suspect. While it is present in Melbourne for the season opener, the car hasn't turned a wheel.

Though it passed the relevant pre-season crash tests and scrutineering here on Thursday both cars have remained in their garages, barely seeing the light of day.

The team continues to issue encouraging soundbites and has even released post-session press releases, but nothing more.

Mat Coch has already queried the team's claim that its software was wiped, and despite talk of a "Herculean effort to prepare its cars to go racing", which didn't require breaking last night's curfew, unlike McLaren, many are of the opinion that its appearance here has been something of a sham.

Clearly the stewards in Melbourne are also unhappy for the team has been summoned to appear before them. Having not received official notice from the team that it wouldn't be running, or why, they issued the following.

“The Stewards request that you provide a written statement explaining why the team did not participate in Qualifying for the 2015 Australian Grand Prix after receiving a letter from the FIA on the 20th February.”

Unwilling to comment on the letter referred to by the Stewards, team principal John booth said: "We always expected things to be this difficult. We knew there was only a slim chance of making qualifying when we set off.

"These modern cars are incredibly complex things, and we have had three weeks to design and build the car in accordance with the 2015 regulations. We've had no time to fix the racks and electronics, and get all the infrastructure built that was required."

Sceptics of the team's intentions will have noted Bernie Ecclestone's comments to Christian Sylt in the Independent today, the F1 supremo hinting at the real reason for its presence down under.

"I don't know whether they have got the money to race," he said. "They can miss three races per contract so they would be history if they miss any more." The team having missed the final three races of 2014.

It is understood the stewards will report their findings tomorrow morning.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Hondawho?, 15/03/2015 20:26

"BE says ""I don't know whether they have got the money to race," he said. "They can miss three races per contract so they would be history if they miss any more." .

Does this mean by the stewards saying al is now OK, that they in fact did turn up with a full compliment ready to race so would BE's ruling be enforceable?

I saw Graham Lowe's interview on Sky and felt it was rather "rehe****d" to say the least, he answered the questions that the stewards asked in word for word sentences, so I do feel it was a con on behalf of the team or maybe just "in interpretation of the rules"........ time will tell."

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2. Posted by Hondawho?, 15/03/2015 20:22

"Did they receive their £35m or so funds then for "being there"."

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3. Posted by bfairey, 14/03/2015 17:19

"The bottom end of F1 is dropping off.I thought that F1 had to field a certain number of cars? How about six four car teams?"

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4. Posted by Mocha, 14/03/2015 16:11

"It seems pretty obvious to me that Marussia/Manor are simply doing whatever minimum requirements they need to do to collect their 30 million in winnings from last year. Maybe that minimum is to show up and express and intent to race, but there's nothing about actually turning a wheel. I'd be happy to fly some equipment, people, and car around to hang out at F1 races in exchange for 30 mil. Just saying.

I would be positively shocked if they ever took part in race session. Bernie should just give them their money and be done with it. I can't see this scenario looking great for the sport."

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Manor summoned by Melbourne stewards

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