Razia left out of Marussia's Barcelona test
After the first 3 days of Formula One testing in Barcelona, it was expected that the Luiz Razia would be in the cockpit of the Marussia MR02 on the final day. However word has it that the Brazilian will not replace Max Chilton.
Photo by: XPB Images
Feb.22 (GMM) Luiz Razia, Marussia's second race driver for 2013, has been left out of this week's testing in Barcelona.
The situation is causing alarm within Brazil's F1 media ranks, and raising doubts about whether the 23-year-old's new contract is now in doubt, or whether Max Chilton is simply the clear and favoured 'number 1'.
"Max has done a great job over the last three days," team boss John Booth said on Thursday, "and we've certainly benefited from the consistency this has provided."
Obviously, the situation has triggered rumours.
"It is believed bureaucratic issues have hindered the payment of (Razia's) sponsorship to Marussia," read a report by the Brazilian news agency Agencia Estado.
Razia told O Estado de S.Paulo correspondent Livio Oricchio: "Sometimes we have to live with these situations.
Veteran journalist Oricchio has another theory about Chilton's prominence.
"Friends in the paddock have told me that Max Chilton's father is acquiring a portion of Marussia at the end of each of the three seasons of his son's contract.
"It is known that their investment in Marussia is far greater than that of Razia."
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