Manor Engine Controversy (2020)

The Manor Engine Controversy was a event in Formula Sigma and Formula NX that resulted from Manor-Marussia changing engines from Ferrari to Mercedes in the 2020 Formula NX season.

Marussia had a terrible season with their outdated Ferrari engines in the 2019 Formula NX season, with their two drivers Karpo Hautala and Patrick Jorgson way off the pace of the frontrunners. Though Jorgson had flashes of brilliance at times, it was not enough to save Jorgson from being knocked out of Formula NX altogether at the end of the 2019 season.

Meanwhile, Thomas Andersson was having a stellar season at the ESPLAR Lites Series, shining at the road courses where teams like Marussia and other Formula NX and Sigma teams were looking for in order to recruit drivers. Performances at Burlington and at Cape Cod would attract the attention of both Ferrari, who were looking to enter the ESPLAR Elite Series, and Marussia, who hope to find other talented drivers. Thomas Andersson eventually landed a one-off ride with Ferrari's affiliate ESPLAR Elite Series team, Turvali-Koralia Racing, for the Round of Central Illinois. Although Andersson did not finish that race, the base performance alone was enough for Marussia to get Thomas Andersson a full-time ride in Formula NX in 2020, and a provisional test drive seat at Ferrari in Formula Sigma.

Then in late December 2019, Marussia made the unthinkable decision to switch from Ferrari engines to Mercedes engines. This caused Ferrari to rethink their strategy of their test drivers moving forward, considering that Ferrari affiliates are more favored for test seats. They eventually took in German driver Karin Mithrazan as their Formula Sigma test driver.

The controversy would leave Thomas Andersson without the Ferrari test drive in Formula Sigma as a result of Marussia's engine change. Debate is still raging today on whether Ferrari should have kept Thomas Andersson as their test driver in Formula Sigma.