Bianchi slimming down for Marussia debut

Jules Bianchi is on a race to slim down ahead of his formula one debut in Australia this weekend.

The Ferrari-linked Frenchman secured the Marussia race seat at the eleventh hour, after contracted Brazilian driver Luiz Razia’s sponsorship money failed to materialise.

Speed Week reports that 23-year-old Bianchi has been put on a training and diet regime to shed 2 kilograms.

Bianchi admitted the weight loss is "because of the weight distribution" of his 2013 car.

"Now there’s only salad for lunch, which should help, even though I am hungry all the time," he said during an interview for French television.