"If I win GP2 it becomes very difficult for me not to get a seat," Manor development driver King tells Sky F1
Tuesday 5 July 2016 15:52, UK
Jordan King admits Manor have given him the "best opportunity" to secure a Formula 1 seat and hopes to build on his first GP2 win.
King converted pole into an Austria victory for Racing Engineer last weekend and was cheered on by Manor, where he is in his second year as development driver.
Manor welcomed two F1 rookies to their team this season, though there is still a doubt over Rio Haryanto's funding for 2016 and beyond, and King is eager to take his chance.
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"If I win GP2 it becomes very difficult for me not to get a seat," King, currently eighth in the feeder series, told Sky F1. "And if I focus on GP2 and do the best job I can, I put myself in the best place to get that seat.
"If anything changes and an opportunity arises this year, next year or in two years' time - whenever it may be - I've got to make sure I'm in the best position to be at the top of the list."
Pascal Wehrlein scored the team's first points of 2016 in Spielberg with 10th and Manor have given many young drivers a route into F1. In a cut-throat sport, King is sure he is in the right place.
"For me, it's one of the best opportunities I'm going to get. In some places like Red Bull - yes, they're very good and they take drivers on - but it's 'you either win or you go'.
"You see lots of drivers that they've taken who have been more than good enough for Formula 1 but they didn't ever get there. Some programmes do great things for you but they can also be quite harmful if you don't do well on them.
"I never committed to Manor when I was in Formula Renault, but moving into GP2 it seemed like the time was right to make the tie-up to give myself the best opportunity.
"If I perform and do well there is a seat there which, as long as I hit my criteria, I can move into."
King says there has been a noticeable change in tempo at Manor this season and is expected to complete his second test in the MRT05 at Silverstone next week.
"It's their test, not yours," he added. "You're not out there to make yourself look good. It's more the confidence you get that they trust you to go and do it.
"They believe your feedback is good enough and they know you're going to do everything they want you to do without making mistakes. That's comforting to know that they trust you."
Don't miss the F1 Report: Austrian GP review on Sky Sports F1 at 8.30pm on Wednesday as Stoffel Vandoorne and Jaime Alguersuari join Marc Priestley in the studio.
