Chilton closes in on 2014 deal

Max Chilton continues to face an uncertain futures in Formula One, despite his father remaining confident over next season.

The 22-year-old Brit is out-of-contract at the end of the season as his debut season in Formula One comes to an end with Marussia.

Having set a record for successive finishes in a debut season, Chilton has impressed as much as anyone can in one of the newbie cars at the back of the grid and while Ferrari development driver Jules Bianchi has already signed a new deal with Marussia for 2014, Chilton could be kept on as well.

Marussia are switching to Ferrari engines and power trains for next season and while the Bianchi deal is completely separate, it does help to keep these partnerships well oiled.

Marussia had also held talks with McLaren, who also hold an important technical operations deal with the newbie team.

That deal had looked to be opening the door for 21-year-old Danish driver Kevin Magnussen, who is part of McLaren’s young driver programme.

However after clinching this year’s Formula Renault 3.5 Series championship, McLaren Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh made the shock move to push him straight into the team alongside Jenson Button.

With that threat now gone, it could lead to Chilton signing a new deal, although according to his father, he also has other options on offer.

‘We are in advanced negotiations with various teams and it is looking good,’ Grahame Chilton told the BBC.

‘Max and Marussia are keen to come to an agreement, so hopefully we will have some announcements over the next few weeks. We really expect him to be on the grid next year.’

But while Chilton Sr hopes for an announcement over the next few weeks, Marussia Sporting Director Graeme Lowdon insists his team will not make a decision any time soon.

Speaking to Sky Sports he said: “We’ve never signed a driver as early as this. We normally do the deals after the season has finished. We’re not doing anything different this year in terms of timing. It’s definitely not a case of leaving Max hanging on, or anything else like that.

“Like any negotiation or discussion, it takes time for people to put together a scenario they are comfortable with on both sides.

“So I don’t really see why that should be hurried up for any reason. It’s not a case of leaving somebody hanging on or anything like that, it’s just a process you go through, you then reach an agreement, you decide when to announce it and you crack on.”