Jules Bianchi to replace Luiz Razia in Marussia Formula 1 team Jules Bianchi will race for Marussia this season after the team was forced to terminate Luiz Razia's contract, AUTOSPORT can reveal. The Frenchman will test for the team at Barcelona on Saturday and then complete half a day of running on Sunday. Although the deal is not believed to have been signed yet, Bianchi will make his debut in the Australian Grand Prix later this month. Bianchi is known to be able to bring some money to Marussia, although he will struggle to match the starting price being quoted by the team, believed to be just over the £5 million mark. Razia was announced as a race driver during the first pre-season Formula 1 test at Jerez after his backer made an initial payment for the seat. AUTOSPORT understands that second scheduled payment deadline was missed, which led to the team pulling Razia from the car in last week's Barcelona test and running team-mate Max Chilton for all four days. Marussia allowed extra time for the agreed backing to appear and held off on making a decision until the Friday of the final test, but has now been forced to take the decision to drop Razia. Chilton continued to drive on the first two days of the current Barcelona test, but the team was keen to ensure that a deal for a replacement was agreed in time for Bianchi to test before Melbourne. It was in talks with alternative drivers, including ex-HRT racer Narain Karthikeyan, until today before choosing Bianchi. Ferrari, which has nurtured Bianchi's career, was known to be keen on him racing this year. He missed out on the second Force India seat to Adrian Sutil earlier this week. Bianchi's management then began pushing in earnest for the Marussia chance. Marussia would not comment on the situation, although an announcement is expected soon. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105789
I don't particularly rate him, but he's better than Razia, Gives the team one respectable driver. Not that who's driving for the pointless teams makes all that much difference in the end, Could well end up doing more harm than good for Bianchi if you look at the how other guys joining those teams' careers have panned out.
Jean Louis Moncet (the French journalist who reported this just before Autosport), says Marussia will make it official with an announcement later today. This is brilliant for Bianchi! As I've said before it's not the best way for him to start his career but at least he won't spend 2013 on the sidelines and at least Marussia have picked up a good driver rather than the likes of Karthikeyan. I feel a bit sorry for Razia, but I thought it was quite telling that Caterham dropped him as their reserve driver despite the millions he would bring to the team. How bad can you be for a backmarker team to turn you and your $$$$ away?
Even without the discount, Ferrari's 2014 engine is 3m cheaper than Renault and 4m cheaper than Mercedes, so Marussia wouldn't dare replace Bianchi and upset Ferrari. Although, if Razia's sponsors come up with the $30m at the last minute, I'm not sure Bianchi's seat will be safe. Hopefully Razia will buy his way back into GP2 and try again next year.
Pleased for Bianchi, Force India left him in the lurch over the winter so good to see he's got a seat now. Problem is that it is at the most unstable team in the paddock in terms of driver line up, they've already been through Glock, Di Grassi, D'Ambrosio, Pic and now Raiza hope they give him a fair shot at it.
Are Force India still interested in Bianchi and Ferrari power for 2014? They tried to sweet-talk him yesterday into staying as reserve driver: Today they congratulated him, despite the angry tweet from Ferrari's driver academy yesterday:
Chilton vs Bianchi so far 2009 British F3 This was Chilton third season, and he finished 4th in the championship, with two wins and four pole positions. Bianchi did four races towards the end of the season, competing as a guest driver. His results were 2nd, DNF, 1st, 1st. See Bianchi's domination here 2010 GP2 Both were in their rookie seasons. Bianchi finished 3rd with 52 points, taking 4 pole positions (out of 10), four podiums and no wins. Chilton finished 25th with 3 points. Out of the drivers who did every single race, Chiltlon was last. See Bianchi's domination here 2011 GP2 Bianchi finished 3rd with 53 points, taking 1 pole, six podiums and one win. Chilton finished 20th with five points. See Bianchi's domination here
Pay driver (Chilton) Vs Actually talented race driver (Bianchi) Chilton is overrated to be honest, out of the 4 British drivers he is the least talented of them all and is only in F1 because Daddy gives him the money. Bianchi should beat Chilton easily!
Tbh this could get social ugly, top young driver against the cancer of which is F1... a class (A) Pay driver. A fine experiment indeed!
Good to see Bianchi get the seat ahead of Razia. Pic made a bit of a name for himself last year, so it's definitely an opportunity for Bianchi.
I have decided to be the forum's resident Max Chilton fanboy purely because of the wave of absolute hatred against him
please log in to view this image Tom & Max, just a couple of guys who enjoy each others company.. No homo
I imagine Forza must feel how I did when Ricciardo joined Actually the similarities there are pretty big: Both Formula Three winners, WSR runner-ups on debut, both should have won WSR on debut, both members of a young driver academy, and both bought seats at the worst possible team on the grid by said academy. I never really took much notice of him until now, but given how few talented drivers there are coming through the ranks now, I'm okay with him replacing Razia.
maxchilton Max Chilton Another successful day & feeling ready for the start of the season! Also would like to welcome @Jules_Bianchi pic.twitter.com/KeobPNqGLC He's so welcoming
