London: Young Briton Max Chilton will make his Formula 1 racing debut with the Marussia team in 2013, the team announced on Tuesday.
Chilton, 21, has recently served as the team’s reserve driver, a role he took on with effect from last season’s Japanese Grand Prix after coming through the team’s young driver programme.
The youngster impressed at the 2012 Young Driver Test at Silverstone in July and again in a free practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last month.
“We are delighted to welcome Max to the role of Race Driver with the Marussia F1 Team for the 2013 season,” said team principal John Booth.
“We felt confident enough in his ability and potential to appoint him to the role of Reserve Driver in September and since that time his development has been rapid in all aspects.”
Chilton further impressed the stable with two pole positions and two wins in GP2 races.
“It’s hard to put into words how I’m feeling today, with the announcement that I will be racing for the Marussia F1 Team in 2013,” Chilton told the team website.
“It comes at the end of what has been a fantastic year for me, and those steps — my GP2 pole positions and wins, my performances in the F1 Young Driver Test and in FP1 at Abu Dhabi — have given everyone the confidence in my ability to compete at the highest level of motor sport.
“Pre-season testing is just a few weeks away, so my focus now is to continue my physical preparation whilst spending as much time as possible working with the technical team to help develop the car I will drive in my debut F1 season.”
