Mar.20 (GMM) The first race of the 2013 season came and went without Marussia signing a commercial agreement with the sport's owners.

In the days before Melbourne, team boss John Booth denied Bernie Ecclestone's recent claim that the F1 chief executive had agreed a new deal with the Banbury-based backmarkers.

"It's vital for Bernie because he won't be able to film us without it," Booth had said.

Sporting boss Graeme Lowdon has now told PA Sport that, now in the days before round two in Malaysia, Marussia is still yet to ink a new deal, whose main element is an agreement about how much CVC will pay the team in 2013.

"It does seem a little strange to treat one team so differently, but then again I don't work for CVC so I assume they have some reason for this," he said.

"The real question is: why us? We would argue we're a pretty good team and we're making good strides."

Lowdon claims that if the situation continues, sponsors may be deterred from backing Marussia.

"The other teams have an agreement (so that) will come into discussions with sponsors," he said.

"It unsettles them that we should be treated differently to other teams. There is a knock-on effect, there is no question."

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version

F1 News  F1 Schedule  F1 Line-up  Constructors' Championship  Drivers' Championship  F1 Tickets  Live F1 Coverage

Full Version: Formula 1 News  Formula 1 Schedule  Formula 1 Line-up  Constructors' Championship  Drivers' Championship  Live F1 Coverage  10 'n' Pole  F1 Regulations  The Forums  Motorsport Shop  F1 Merchandise  F1 Tickets  F1 Diecast  F1 Videos  F1 Games