F1 2016: British driver Will Stevens replaced by Rio Haryanto for Manor team

Will Stevens has been dropped by Manor for the 2016 F1 season. The 24-year-old Brit has not scored a point after 18 grand prix starts and has been replaced by Indonesian Rio Haryanto.

His absence means there will be three British drivers on the grid this year, with defending world champion Lewis Hamilton, former champion Jenson Button and Jolyon Palmer all set to participate in the upcoming F1 season.

Stevens secured the seat in the Manor car in 2015 through a sponsorship package, which is thought to be worth around £6m ($8.6m). However, his replacement, Haryanto, is bringing in about £10m in sponsorship from Indonesia's state oil company. What's more, he finished fourth in last year's GP2 series and won three races in the process.

"He's tenacious on and off the track and made a big impression on last year's GP2 battle," Manor owner Stephen Fitzpatrick said of the decision, according to the BBC.

Stevens made his F1 debut for the now-defunct Caterham team at the 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Englishman was able to finish 14 of the 17 races he started during the last Formula One season but the Manor team struggled to make an impression. Stevens's best result was 13th place at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.