Razia In Line for Force India Reserve Role?

Former Marussia F1 Team driver for less than a month, Luiz Razia, has revealed that he is in talks with Force India over a possible reserve or test role.

(c) Octane Photographic

The Brazilian came close to making his Formula One debut with the Banbury based Marussia squad but his contract was terminated during the winter testing season due to issues with sponsorship and funding.

The 2012 GP2 series runner-up admitted that he is discussing a potential reserve role with Force India for this season after the driver formerly in that role replaced Razia at Marussia, Jules Bianchi. The deal could involve some outings in first practice.

Talking to Jovem Pan Radio the 24-year-old said on his chances of clinching the deal “The possibility is there. Force India is very interested in doing this project. But – strangely enough – I need sponsorship.”

The word must be haunting for Razia who admitted that losing his Marussia seat due to problems with funding was tough to begin with.

“The team doesn’t want to do something badly, they want a project for at least two years: this year building up to be race driver in the coming year.”

He revealed in the interview that it is disappointing, how reliant teams are on drivers bringing in the money. “I need sponsorship. It’s disappointing to have to rely on it so much to do our work professionally, but that’s how it is.”

Razia was in talks with Caterham for the 2013 season too but despite previously admitting that it hurt initially, reflecting on it the hardest part was the situation with the sponsor. “I don’t think it hurt. The difficult part was only the situation. We had the option of going to Caterham, but we chose Marussia for two reasons: they had a better package while Caterham was focusing more on 2014, and because we had several meetings with Pay Symonds and he was very confident.”

Commenting on his replacement at Marussia, Bianchi, he felt that if he was in the car he could have equalled his results. “For sure, I don’t think that would have been a difficult goal for the season.”

However he took the opportunity to criticise Marussia on signing British racer Max Chilton, citing lack of experience as the main reason. “I think Chilton has come into Formula One too early, with not enough experience.”

Razia has had strong links with a number of Formula One teams. He formerly held the test and reserve role with Virgin, now Marussia, as well as driving at the 2011 Young Driver Test and during FP1 for Team Lotus, now known as Caterham. The Brazilian also tested for Toro Rosso last year.

In other Force India news, 2013 ART GP3 racer Conor Daly will complete a day of straight line testing at Duxford Airfield on the 1st May, just over a week before the GP3 season kicks off as a support series to the Formula 1 in Spain.

Daly will also contest in this years Indy 500 and will has completed his seat fitting for the Force India drive today (Monday). He will spend Tuesday in the simulator in preparation for his test run.

He said on the opportunity "These sessions are vital data gathering times for Formula 1 teams and I'm glad to be able to assist. Formula 1 cars are very complex machines and the day provides me with a great opportunity to learn many of the systems." It will be his third test in F1 machinery.