Driver profile: Charles Pic

Frenchman Charles Pic impressed in his debut season with Marussia in 2012, running experienced team-mate Timo Glock respectably close.

Pic out-qualified Glock a total of six times, and some reckoned him to be the rookie of the year.

Pic's stats and facts

  • Team: Caterham
  • Team-mate: Giedo van der Garde
  • Born: 15/02/90, Montelimar
  • Nationality: French

It is always difficult to judge a driver in a back-of-the-grid car, but Pic certainly seems to be living up to his pedigree.

His adviser is former Ligier, BAR and Toyota driver - and 1996 Monaco Grand Prix winner - Olivier Panis. And his godfather is Eric Bernard, another ex-F1 driver, who had an on-off career from 1989-94 with Larrousse, Ligier and Lotus.

The fact Pic brings a potful of French sponsorship with him, closely related to engine supplier Renault, and has a "multi-year" contract with Caterham suggests he will be around for some time. At least he seems to have the talent to justify it.