Marussia drivers granted permission to start in Malaysia

Marussia duo Roberto Merhi and Will Stevens have both been granted permission to start the 2015 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix by governing body the FIA.

Neither driver set a time within the required 107 percent of pole position in qualifying - Merhi lapping fractionally outside the limit, while Stevens was unable to set a time due to a fuel system issue that first arose in FP3.

Marussia therefore had to request permission for both their cars to start the race, which was duly granted by the stewards of the meeting as both drivers “set satisfactory times in practice at this event”.

Merhi will therefore line up 19th for Sunday's race, with team mate Stevens alongside him in 20th.