Stevens to get F1 drive

British Formula Renault 3.5 series driver Will Stevens is set to drive for Marussia in practice on Friday.

The 23-year-old does have some experience of Formula One having previously drove in a test for Caterham at Silverstone in July.

However he has since left Caterham and is expected to be named as a Marussia reserve driver alongside Alexander Rossi.

Stevens will take over fellow Brit Max Chilton’s car for Friday’s session.

Chilton is obviously disappointed to lose the track time in Japan but is happy for a fellow British driver to gain some experience in Formula One.

‘Although Suzuka is one of those circuits where you like as much time in the car as possible, I feel confident that I’ve got the pace. Chilton told the BBC.

‘Will is a good friend; I think I first karted against him in ’99 and we still play golf together about once a month. It is difficult to get the testing mileage these days, and I am fully behind him.’