Sep.21 (GMM) While Lewis Hamilton is holding up the 'silly season' at F1's sharp end, the bottom half of the 2013 grid is now starting to take shape.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that new Marussia reserve Max Chilton, backed in GP2 by his wealthy father, is set to make his grand prix debut next year.

He will replace Charles Pic, who will take his well-heeled sponsors to Caterham to replace Vitaly Petrov, whose Russian backers have called time on the F1 project.

Caterham, whose boss Tony Fernandes has appointed Renault official Cyril Abiteboul as its new CEO, wants to keep Heikki Kovalainen, but if the highly rated Finn jumps ship, Auto Motor und Sport said former Toro Rosso driver Sebastien Buemi is in the frame.

Buemi's former teammate Jaime Alguersuari could also be making a return next year, having reportedly put together a useful sponsorship package that the young Spaniard could take to Sauber.

21-year-old Dutchman Robin Frijns, meanwhile - currently racing in the Renault World Series - has reportedly lined up a reserve driver role for 2013.

Force India wants to keep Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg, but also attractive to the Silverstone team are the release deals that they could negotiate with much better-funded outfits.

So if there are cockpits to fill at Force India, Auto Motor und Sport said Buemi, Alguersuari and even the team's former racer Adrian Sutil are in the running.

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version

F1 News  F1 Schedule  F1 Line-up  Constructors' Championship  Drivers' Championship  F1 Tickets  Live F1 Coverage

Full Version: Formula 1 News  Formula 1 Schedule  Formula 1 Line-up  Constructors' Championship  Drivers' Championship  Live F1 Coverage  10 'n' Pole  F1 Regulations  The Forums  Motorsport Shop  F1 Merchandise  F1 Tickets  F1 Diecast  F1 Videos  F1 Games