Off again, on again: Marussia saves Chilton seat

BELGIUM - Marussia has hit reverse after saying on Thursday (August 21) Max Chilton would not be racing this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps.

The backmarker team drafted in Californian Alexander Rossi, who was in Chilton's car for the first practice for the Belgian GP on Friday. Rossi would have been the first US driver to start a GP since Scott Speed in 2006.

BACK TO RACE

Chilton, who claimed on August 21 he had relinquished the seat so Marussia could "sell" it to Rossi, will now be back in the car in the afternoon and beyond.

The team had said that it "contractual issues" had caused the seat swap.

A report posted on F1's official website read: "On Friday morning, the team formally applied to change their nominated driver from Rossi back to Chilton for this weekend's race.  The request was approved by the stewards."