Luiz Razia Completes An All-GP2 Marussia 2013 Line-Up

Marussia have finally confirmed their second driver alongside Max Chilton, after weeks of speculation surrounding the vacant seat since Timo Glock’s sudden departure. 2012 GP2 runner-up Luiz Razia will complete the graduation up to Formula 1 alongside the Briton, in an all-GP2 line-up for the Banbury-based outfit.

Since Timo Glock’s abrupt departure to the DTM Series, Marussia have been searching for a replacement to team-mate new driver Max Chilton. Several drivers were instantly linked to the vacancy, including Russian driver Vitaly Petrov. However, as pre-season testing drew ever nearer, reports began to emerge linking Brazilian driver Luiz Razia to the Anglo-Russian outfit.

Luiz Razia enjoyed a rather prosperous season last year in the GP2 feeder category with Arden International, taking four wins and nine podium finishes on his way to runner-up in the Championship standings behind eventual Champion Davide Valsecchi. The 23-year-old has previously tested for numerous Formula 1 outfits including Team Lotus (now known as Caterham), Toro Rosso and Virgin Racing (now known as Marussia). This makes Razia no stranger to the Banbury-based outfit, and therefore only adds to the teams pleasure of seeing him return to the team.

“We are pleased to have concluded our driver line-up, which means that we can now focus all our attentions on what looks set to be a very promising 2013 season.” Explained John Booth, Marussia’s team principal. “Luiz isn’t new to our team of course, having been Reserve Driver in our debut season in 2010 and part of our Young Driver Programme. It is therefore very pleasing to have not one but two graduates of that Programme driving for us in 2013, and also very exciting, since both Luiz and Max demonstrated a great deal of potential competing alongside each other in GP2 last season.”

Luiz Razia is understandably thrilled with his “graduation” to the world of Formula 1, after several competitive seasons in GP2. The 23-year-old becomes the 31st Brazilian driver to enter Formula 1, and is already preparing to make his debut on track later today in the team’s new MR-02 machine during the second day of the Jerez test.

“It is fantastic to be back with the Marussia F1 Team and with pretty much the same group of people I worked with back in 2010 when I was Reserve Driver.” Enthused Luiz Razia, “I am very proud to take the step up to a Formula 1 race seat, particularly with the team I began this journey with, since they helped show me what it takes to progress to the highest level. The past two seasons in GP2 have been all about proving that I have what it takes and that I’m ready.

“I am looking forward to beginning that process in Jerez where we are testing the MR02 for the first time. This is an important year for the Marussia F1 Team in terms of maintaining the momentum from a very positive 2012 season. I look forward to making a valuable contribution to that.”

This announcement by Marussia leaves only one vacancy on the grid for the new season, with Force India still yet to confirm Paul di Resta’s team-mate for 2013. Numerous likely candidates include Jules Bianchi, Adrian Sutil, Vitaly Petrov and even James Rossiter who will drive the new VJM06 later today at Jerez.

Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service