Max Chilton will make his Formula 1 debut with Marussia next season, stepping up to a race seat after spending 2012 as the team's official reserve driver. The 21-year-old Briton, who won two GP2 races this year, joins Timo Glock at the outfit.
Chilton has been given the promotion on the back of his encouraging outings for the squad throughout 2012, initially testing for the team at Silverstone in July before making his free practice debut in Abu Dhabi. Added to his pair of GP2 pole positions and victories, the Reigate-born driver feels ready to take the next step in his career.
"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," said Chilton. "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.
"I am very fortunate to have spent the last six races with the team as reserve driver, which means that instead of a standing start, I am already up to speed and at ease with the people, the culture, the systems and the 2012 package.
"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."
Chilton will be one of four British drivers on the grid next year, joining Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Paul di Resta when the latter's Force India contract is confirmed.
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