Max Chilton will drive for Marussia in 2013

Britain's Max Chilton has been promoted to a race seat with Marussia in 2013, replacing the Caterham-bound Charles Pic.

Team Principal John Booth revealed the decision had not been made lightly, with Chilton's efforts last season thoroughly examined before he was given the opportunity. "We are delighted to welcome Max to the role of Race Driver with the Marussia F1 Team for the 2013 season," Booth said. "We have spent a significant amount of time evaluating his performances during 2012, both in our own car in a testing situation and also from the pitwall as we monitored his progress alongside the other members of our junior talent pool during Grand Prix support races. "We felt confident enough in his ability and potential to appoint him to the role of Reserve Driver in September and since that time his development has been rapid in all aspects. First and foremost, he has shown himself to be extremely capable in the car. "Most recently, in Abu Dhabi, he was put to the test in a competitive environment which included providing him with an opportunity to demonstrate his outright pace and consistency over a single lap. "We saw just how much he has progressed even since the Silverstone test in the summer and through the succession of GP2 races thereafter, when he achieved two pole positions and two race wins. "Not only that, Max very quickly embedded himself within the team, thanks in no small part to the fact that he is a lively and affable character who we've enjoyed having around. Having been integral to our race weekend engineering environment for the past three months already - as well as having undertaken a significant part of our simulator programme - Max has already found his feet." It will be the first time there have been four British drivers on the grid since 2008, when Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, Anthony Davidson and David Coulthard competed.