Jules Bianchi’s disappointment at missing out on the last seat at Force India hasn’t lasted long with confirmation he will drive full-time for Marussia in 2013.
Marussia had, in theory, already locked away its two drivers for the year with young Briton Max Chilton to be joined by 23-year-old Brazilian Luis Razia. However, it’s being reported that Razia’s financial backers missed a payment forcing Marussia to cancel his contract.
Ferrari, who has supported Bianchi throughout his junior career, was keen to see the 23-year-old Frenchman secure a drive in 2013 and Bianchi’s management leapt into action when a chance at Marussia became available. Naturally, he’s pretty happy about the news, even though he doesn’t have much time to familiarise himself with the team before heading to Australia.
“Racing in Formula 1 this season has been my goal over the winter and after evaluating a number of options I am very excited to have this opportunity to demonstrate that I am ready for this next step in my racing career,” Bianchi said.
“I am also very grateful to the Ferrari Driver Academy that has always supported me and has given me the possibility to mature as a racing driver enabling me to be fully prepared for this new exciting challenge. The next two weeks of preparation for the season will be incredibly busy but I am ready to get started tomorrow with my first day in the MR02.â€
Jules Bianchi to race
- We appoint 23 year old Frenchman Jules Bianchi to a race seat following the termination of Luiz Razia’s contract
Friday 1 March 2013
Pre-Season Testing, Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
19.00hrs CET
We have appointed 23 year old Frenchman Jules Bianchi to a race seat for the 2013 season.
Jules will participate in the remaining two days of the final pre-season test in Barcelona this week to acquaint himself with the MR02 race car ready for the start of the 2013 season in Australia in two weeks’ time.
The move follows the Team’s termination of Luiz Razia’s contract.
John Booth, Team Principal, Marussia F1 Team
“We are very pleased to welcome Jules Bianchi to the Marussia F1 Team. Jules is a proven talent who is highly regarded within the Paddock. He has been on a clear trajectory towards Formula 1 and has achieved some impressive performances through the various feeder formulae, notably his 2012 season in Formula Renault 3.5 when he was also Reserve Driver for Force India. He is part of the Ferrari Driver Academy and his obvious pedigree put him on the radar for a number of teams over the winter as a driver ready to step up to Formula 1.
“We have found ourselves in a situation where we have had to terminate our contract with Luiz Razia. Having made clear the basis on which we must operate in 2013, and given the steps we had taken to put that new structure in place, we had no alternative but to remain true to the principles which we had identified as being key to securing our long-term future.
“We can now focus on the remainder of the testing programme and preparing for what looks to be a promising season for our Team. Jules can now look forward to a very swift initiation into the Team over the course of the next two days here in Barcelona, when he is expected to run for one and a half days to afford both our drivers some dry running with the latest aero specification.â€
Jules Bianchi, Driver #22
“I am thrilled to have secured a race seat with the Marussia F1 Team. Racing in Formula 1 this season has been my goal over the winter and after evaluating a number of options I am very excited to have this opportunity to demonstrate that I am ready for this next step in my racing career. I am also very grateful to the Ferrari Driver Academy that has always supported me and has given me the possibility to mature as a racing driver enabling me to be fully prepared for this new exciting challenge. The next two weeks of preparation for the season will be incredibly busy but I am ready to get started tomorrow with my first day in the MR02.â€