Marussia has signed Force India’s 2012 reserve driver Jules Bianchi to replace Luiz Razia on the team. The team made this announcement on the second day of the final pre-season testing in Barcelona. This announcement followed after the termination of Razia’s contract who had signed with the team before the first pre-season test in Jerez. Razia’s contract was terminated when he was let down by his sponsors who were unable to fulfil the financial commitments to the team. 

Doubts had begun to rise when the team had pulled out Razia from the car during the second test in Barcelona where Max Chilton tested the MR02 for all four days. The Brazilian had been a reserve driver for the team in the year 2010 and had been signed after Timo Glock’s departure from the team before the start of the first pre-season test.

On Razia’s departure, Team Principal John Booth said “We have found ourselves in a situation where we have had to terminate our contract with Luiz Razia. Having made clear the basis on which we must operate in 2013, and given the steps we had taken to put that new structure in place, we had no alternative but to remain true to the principles which we had identified as being key to securing our long-term future.”

Jules Bianchi on the other hand had been backed by the Ferrari Drivers’ Academy where they were keen on getting him a race seat for the 2013 season. After losing out to Adrian Sutil for the Force India seat, the Frenchman has finally landed himself a place on the grid for the 2013 season.

On securing his seat, Bianchi said, “Racing in Formula One this season has been my goal over the winter and after evaluating a number of options I am very excited to have this opportunity to demonstrate that I am ready for this next step in my racing career.” With Bianchi’s association with Ferrari and the Russia team looking for a engine suppliers for 2014, can it be that the team get a Ferrari powered car for the next season?

Meanwhile, the Frenchman has tested the MR02 in his new outfit where he had the twelfth fastest time on Day 3 and the 11th fastest time on the final day of the test. He has also tested Force India's VJM06 in the second pre-season test in Barcelona where he had clocked the fourth fastest timing on Day 4 of the test. The question still remains as to how much good the Marussia race seat will do to the 23 year old, after having tested a superior VJM06 and after being a part of the Ferrari Drivers' Academy.