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          Manor prepared for emotional return to Monaco

          Sutton Images

          Manor is preparing for an "emotional" Monaco Grand Prix this weekend as it returns to the scene of Jules Bianchi's points finish last year.

          Bianchi's finished ninth at Monte Carlo, the first points for the team, then called Marussia, and enough to eventually propel them to ninth in the constructors' championship ahead of Sauber and Caterham. However, it turned out to be a bittersweet campaign as Bianchi suffered serious head injuries at the Japanese Grand Prix in October, from which the Frenchman remains in a coma.

          Sporting director Graeme Lowdon has already said Manor's remarkable return to the grid this season only occurred because of Bianchi and he thinks Monaco will be an even more difficult race for the team than the return to Japan in September.

          "Bizarrely enough I think it's more difficult to go there than Suzuka because we have such good memories," Lowdon told F1i. "I think there will be quite a lot of emotion actually because it's obviously the scene of some very, very happy times.

          "We had a proper roller coaster weekend with penalties, gearbox changes, overtaking manoeuvres, safety cars, it had everything. It was a real roller coaster but I remember Jules crossing the line and it was a great feeling for everyone in the team. I'm sure everyone will have some thoughts when they're there because we had such good memories."

          On Monday, Manor tweeted about the race with an image of Bianchi and Lowdon embracing after the result last year.