Caterham team principal Cyril Abiteboul has welcomed Kamui Kobayashi and rookie Marcus Ericsson on board after they were confirmed as the Leafield-based marque’s new line-up for the 2014 season.

The duo have replaced the axed Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde, the latter joining Sauber as that team's test and reserve driver.

Kobayashi, 27, joins Cater-ham after a year out of F1 attempting to scrape together the money for his seat after being released by Sauber in 2012.

Ericsson, 23, meanwhile, has been signed up after four years in GP2.

“I’m very pleased we can finally unveil our drivers,” said Abiteboul.

“The process may have taken longer than we’d have liked, but we didn’t want or need to be rushed into such important decisions and we have been in the happy position of having a wide range of drivers to choose from.

“I believe we have exciting, dynamic talents.

“I’m delighted we’ve been able to bring Kamui back.

“He is a very popular driver and it’s very good for the whole team we've been able to attract such an exciting driver to join us at a critical point in our development.

“Alongside him is Marcus, who will be racing in his debut F1 season in 2014.

“He is a driver who has prepared perfectly for the step up to F1 with his graduation through the ranks.”

Meanwhile, the Enstone-based Lotus team have joined forces with online trading and investment specialists Saxo Bank as an official business partner for the new season.

They join Lotus’s existing partners, including Micro-soft, Clear and Rexona from Unilever and Coca-Cola.