Lotus F1 Team
Lotus reserve driver Jolyon Palmer says he remains optimistic that he can prove to the team that he deserves a race seat in 2016, despite comments from deputy team principal Federico Gastaldi.
Gastaldi said recently that while the squad is pleased with Palmer's progress this year, he would have to wait until 2017 as both Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado will remain with the team next year.
Reigning GP2 Champion Palmer, whose 2015 duties involve participating in several practice sessions, says his aim remains stepping up to a full-time seat.
"I don’t want to be a test driver again next year, my aim is still to be racing with Lotus and that is why I am here for the year to be racing," Palmer told Sky Sports.
"I have been told there could be an opportunity so I just have to try my best and show the team why they should take me.
"There is not much more to say, I am getting some time in the car, so at least I am getting an opportunity and as far I am aware there could be a chance so I am just trying to grab it with both hands."
Palmer believes that the amount of track time he has received in 2015 is vital for him to prove himself for next year.
"It was crucial," he said. "That is what this year is all about for me, I wanted to be racing, but in the end it was pretty obvious that I wasn’t going to be because there is not a lot of opportunity.
"There are 20 cars on the grid and that is as low as it has been for as long as I can remember. Thus the important thing was to get a role driving the car like I am and now I have switched my focus to be racing next year instead.
"So I need to make myself as good as I can be as a driver, learn as much as I can and hope that I can prove to a team that I am worth a shot next year.
"I chose to go to Lotus, they’ve given me so far a good amount of track time and now it is up to me to prove why they should take me for next year."
