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Marussia set for Ferrari or Mercedes in 2014

Marussia is currently the only team on the grid using Cosworth engines © Sutton Images

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• Drivers:
• Jules Bianchi

• Teams:
• Manor

Marussia will use engines from either Ferrari or Mercedes in 2014 according to CEO Andy Webb.

The team is currently the only one on the grid supplied by Cosworth, but with expensive new turbo engines being introduced for next season Cosworth is not developing a 2014-specification unit. As a result, Marussia will have to find a new engine supplier and Webb has ruled out a switch to Renault which currently supplies Red Bull, Lotus, Williams and Caterham.

"It is obvious that with Cosworth leaving we can choose between Ferrari and Mercedes," Webb told Russian website Championat. "We are dealing with both. We will see what the options will be, and it is clear that the issue of price is also an important factor, because the price of the engines in 2014 will be significantly higher than the current engines. Price is the most important point, and we need to make sure we choose the right partner. I hope to be able to announce our engine partner in the next four weeks."

The appointment of Jules Bianchi to a race seat gives the team stronger links to Ferrari, but off the back of recent impressive performances Webb said the team was "lucky" to have him available at the right time when it needed to replace Luiz Razia.

"If we talk about luck, we can not forget Brazil 2012. Prior to the rain we led Caterham by 17 seconds. Then came the safety car and we lost; it was bad luck. Now - yes, we may be lucky sometimes, but it always alternates with bad luck. But if you continue to work hard, improving everything and improving the car, sometimes Lady Luck will help you.

"Razia was very unlucky that his sponsors did not bring enough money. We thought that they would bring it, Razia also thought they would bring it. It was a very unpleasant situation. But then we were really lucky that Force India chose [Adrian] Sutil. It was a great choice for them and it allowed us to invite Jules. We were able to quickly put Bianchi in to the seat. Granted, there we were lucky."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.