Marussia Announce Young Driver Test Line-Up

Marussia have announced that current GP2 stars Max Chilton and Rio Haryanto will drive the Marussia MR-01 are this week’s Young Driver Test at Silverstone, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday 12th and Friday 13th July. The two drivers currently drive for the Marussia backed Carlin team, and have enjoyed a relatively competitive start to the season.

This will be Max Chilton’s second taste of Formula 1 machinery, after the Briton drove for Force India at last year’s Young Driver Test around the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Indonesian star Rio Haryanto has also tasted Formula 1 machinery once before, back in 2010 for the then Virgin Racing team who have since become Marussia.

“I’m really excited to be taking part in the Young Driver Test for Marussia F1 Team.” Explained Max Chilton, “I have driven an F1 car once before – the Force India in 2011 – but I feel that with another year of GP2 competition under my belt to develop my driving further I feel much more prepared this time and eager to demonstrate that progression. The team have come up with a great programme, which has a bit of everything we need to showcase our potential. I can’t wait for the opportunity and thanks to the team, who have already been a great support to me in GP2 this season.”

Only three teams are scheduled to return to Silverstone this week, with Marussia being joined by Williams [Valtteri Bottas] and HRT [Ma Qing Hua]. The two days are set to be alternated between a day on the Grand Prix circuit and a day on the International circuit. Max Chilton will run on the Thursday morning and the Friday afternoon, whereas Rio Haryanto will run on the Thursday afternoon and the Friday morning.

“I would like to thank the Marussia F1 team for giving me this opportunity.” Said Rio Haryanto. “Having worked with the team for the past three years in both GP3 and GP2, I feel part of the team already and I know they follow every race I have done with great interest. The team gave me my first F1 opportunity in 2010 in Abu Dhabi, however for this test at Silverstone I am much better prepared from a technical and fitness point of view. With the limited testing available in Formula 1, any time a young driver can spend in an F1 car is valuable for the future.”

Max Chilton and Rio Haryanto sit 5th and 15th in the GP2 Drivers’ Championship standings respectively, with the latter only 14 races in to his GP2 career after graduating from GP3. Both drivers will naturally be eager to use their valuable time within a Formula 1 car to show the Marussia F1 team their worth as a potential candidate for that big leap into the world of Formula 1.

Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service