Jolyon Palmer is targeting a 2016 race seat after being appointed Lotus test driver
Briton clinched GP2 title in 2014 with a record points haul
Wednesday 21 January 2015 11:23, UK
Jolyon Palmer is targeting a 2016 race seat after being appointed Lotus test driver for the forthcoming season.
The 2014 GP2 champion will take part in “a significant number of Practice One sessions” this year, something the Briton felt was key to ensure his career did not stagnate.
Palmer’s sees the forthcoming season as a learning year to make himself more desirable when he targets a race seat in 2016.
“It would be great to have a longer term partnership with Lotus and that is a big aim, but we have to wait and see really,” Palmer told Sky Sports Online.
“The main thing is that it is a good opportunity to show what I can do in a Formula 1 car on a regular basis and learn and become a better prospect for 2016.
“It is the perfect situation for me, because a race drive wasn’t possible so now I have a great opportunity with Lotus and I am really looking forward to working with the team, getting some mileage in the car and really progressing my career.”
Having seen previous GP2 champions Fabio Leimer and Davide Valsecchi sat on the sidelines after winning the feeder series, Palmer admits it was critical any test drive role gets him out on track.
“I’m not sure [what races] at the moment, but I am hopeful of a good number anyway and that was the main thing,” he added. “The two things that are important for a third driver deal were firstly to get some good mileage and then to look forward to how I am going to progress for the year after.
“Lotus are very keen to have me in the car which is progress and I am very thankful to them for that because it is not easy to get time in a F1 car, particularly when there are only nine teams. So they’ve put their faith in me which is great and really I was very happy with everything they had to offer. So it is a good deal and now it is about maximising it and learning everything that I can.”
Alongside his Practice One outings, Palmer is hopeful of driving during one of the pre-season tests in Barcelona.
“I won’t be driving in Jerez as there is a bit of work to do for Lotus with the switch to Mercedes engines – I hope that that will be a real stride forward for the team after a difficult year last year,” Palmer said.
“I am hoping to have a day in Barcelona and we will take it from there really.”
