Jolyon Palmer training harder than ever to prepare for F1 debut

Jolyon Palmer says he is training harder than ever to be fully prepared for his F1 debut in Australia in 2016.

The 2014 GP2 champion will replace the Haas-bound Romain Grosjean at Lotus next year, by which point the team could have become the works Renault squad.

Palmer's race seat was announced ahead of the United States GP, meaning his focus in the remainder of 2015 immediately switched to preparing for 2016, rather than just gaining F1 experience.

"Everything has stepped up from the moment I was announced with a few races to go," he told Sky Sports.

"We've now got one race to go and I am pushing flat out to make sure everything is covered.

"I've done a lot of time in the car already which is good, so I'll be analysing that a bit more and then training harder than I've ever trained and making sure that by the time it gets to Melbourne that I am in tip-top shape and ready to go."

Palmer will once again be at the wheel of Grosjean's Lotus E23 for Practice One in Abu Dhabi, bringing his total Friday outings to 13 this year.

With F1 testing extremely limited, the Briton admits those sessions have been vital in preparing him for the step up next year.

"I've learnt a huge amount. It has been very important I think, because GP2 is a good series and I learnt a huge amount in that and felt ready to step up," he added.

"But getting the track time in a P1 session is really valuable because you are driving the car, but also you are driving it in a meaningful session and doing the work that the race drivers already do so it is different to a test day.

"I am feeling very prepared and am confident to give it a good go."

Palmer could potentially gain further experience at a 12-hour Pirelli tyre test in Abu Dhabi following the season finale, but was unable to confirm if he would be driving or not.

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