Will Stevens has paid tribute to the late Jules Bianchi, saying the Frenchman's points at Monaco last year are "absolutely key" to the team's continued existence this year.
Bianchi's ninth-place finish at Monte Carlo last year earned the team extra prize money for finishing above Sauber and Caterham in the constructors' championship. Bianchi died on Friday, nine months after his serious crash at the Japanese Grand Prix, and Stevens praised the Frenchman's legacy at the revived Manor team.
"The difference Jules made last year in Monaco is absolutely key to us still being here," Stevens said. "I don't think there's a single member of the team who underestimates everything he did for the team. He always was a really good guy, I knew him from a very young age in karting and wherever he was there was never a bad word said about him.
"So I think in terms of the team underestimating what he did, there's no question about that at all. Without his contribution last year and what he did last year in Monaco then I'm sure things for the team would probably be different now."
Stevens, who was named one of Manor's drivers when it returned to the grid from administration this season, believes Bianchi would have wanted the show to go on as usual this weekend.
"As a sport it's obviously been a very long time since something like this has happened. It's hard for all the drivers, for sure, because we all need to carry on racing and I'm sure Jules would want that as well. Obviously we've all got a job to do this weekend but every lap we do I'm sure Jules is going to be in our thoughts.
"As drivers we need to respect that and keep going with the weekend. Especially with this weekend being so close, it's going to be tough, but we have to race hard and I'm sure that's what Jules would want as well."
When asked if the team had any race tributes in mind in memory of Bianchi, Stevens added: "I think we'll hold off for a bit and I think that's more for the team to decide what we're going to do moving forward. But I know for sure it's something [placing stickers on helmets] we're looking at going to do."