Bianchi 'ready' should Ferrari seat become available

Marussia's Jules Bianchi says he feels ready to step up and drive for Ferrari should a vacancy open up at the Maranello-based team.

With speculation intensifying around Fernando Alonso’s future with the Scuderia, Bianchi - who's part of the Ferrari young driver academy and has tested with the Italian team several times - believes it would be ‘logical’ for him to make the move if the Spaniard was to leave.

“Of course I feel ready,” the Frenchman said when asked about a Ferrari seat in the build up to this weekend’s race at Suzuka.

“I have been working on that since I [joined the Ferrari] Academy at the end of 2009. Now I [have done] nearly two seasons in Formula One. I think I have good experience and I feel ready for that, for sure.

“Obviously at the moment both drivers (Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen) have a contract so it's not the question - but if there is the opportunity it will be good for me and I feel good. It looks like the logical step for me if something happens like this.”

Despite speculation, Alonso has downplayed talk of him leaving at the end of 2014, insisting in September that it is his ‘wish’ to stay at Ferrari.

The Spaniard has claimed 11 Grand Prix victories and has finished runner-up in the championship three times since joining Ferrari ahead of the 2010 championship. The team has struggled in 2014 however, with Alonso scoring just two podiums over the opening 14 races.