Di Grassi eyes F1 drive

Eurosport - Fri, 24 Oct 11:24:00 2008

Renault's Brazilian test driver Lucas Di Grassi has said he is hopeful of moving up to a Formula One race drive next season.

2008 Budapest Campos Di Grassi - 0

"What I want is to try to take a step up in my career and become an official F1 driver. There is a good possibility that I will be in F1 next year," he told Reuters.

"My first option is Renault because they have been investing in my career. But I would be happy with any other team."

Di Grassi (pictured with has been part of Renault's Driver Development Programme for five years and has been mentioned as a possible alternative to rookie compatriot Nelson Piquet if the team decide they need a change after next week's season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.

"The option (of being an official driver) is up to Renault," said Di Grassi.

"They have the possibility of extending my contract, so I am waiting for their decision to see if it will be with Renault or if I will have permission to negotiate with other teams".

Renault are waiting for double world champion Fernando Alonso to decide his future before announcing their lineup.

Honda and Toro Rosso are the other teams yet to confirm their drivers for 2009.

"Everything I could do, since F3, GP2, Formula One tests, was good and more than satisfactory to be able to achieve F1," said Di Grassi, who was third in this year's GP2 feeder series.

"So if there was a spot, and it depended only on my talent, I would have already got there. But F1 is a little bit more complex, it involves other processes and political and commercial decisions, so I have to wait."

Reuters

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  1. Pedro you can't con us, our mate mouron told us­ that you will race at least once next season.
    Tell me­ guys how is mouron gonna back out of this one? I guess­ he'll start denying he ever said it soon? Or maybe­ he will just disappeat?
    I hope not.
    Hey can anyone­ explain this no testing to me, it just sounds daft or­ am I missing something?

    From BigBill, on Sun 11 Jan 4:00PM

  2. Pedro you can't con us, our mate mouron told us­ that you will race at least once next season.
    Tell me­ guys how is mouron gonna back out of this one? I guess­ he'll start denying he ever said it soon? Or maybe­ he will just disappear?

    From BigBill, on Sun 11 Jan 3:59PM

  3. Pedro you can't con us, our mate mouron told us­ that you will race at least once next season.
    Tell me­ guys how is mouron gonna back out of this one? I guess­ he'll start denying he ever said it soon?

    From BigBill, on Sun 11 Jan 3:58PM

  4. Pedro you can't con us, our mate mouron told us­ that you will race at least once next season.
    Tell me­ guys how is mouron gonna back out of this one?

    From BigBill, on Sun 11 Jan 3:58PM

  5. Pedro you can't con us, our mate mouron told us­ that you will race at least once next season.

    From BigBill, on Sun 11 Jan 3:58PM

  6. YES to ALONSO
    he never needs to visit pits for a new­ nose cone as he drives more skillfully

    From startoratora, on Mon 27 Oct 12:22PM

  7. You don't get the concept of a championship do you,­ just because he is improving doesn't give him the­ championship. Consistancy is what makes it to the top.­ Alonso is consistingly whinging !!!! Maybe there's­ a prize for that !

    From falcon77storm, on Sun 26 Oct 11:35AM

  8. double world champ ,.,. experienced talented ­ skilled..,., ALONSO ., heading for SUCCESS

    he has­ gathered most points from last 5 races ,.,.. in a­ slower car

    From Lucie D, on Sun 26 Oct 5:42AM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    So if there was a spot, and it depended only on my­ talent, I would have already got there. The kid needs a­ bigger helmet to fit his ego. How do you spell cocky in­ portuguese? He puts LH to shame.

    From Frederic, on Sun 26 Oct 12:34AM

  10. kimmi received his team orders at least a week before­ the race

    but he was not expected 2B so very far­ ahead .,., !

    From raymonda222, on Sat 25 Oct 9:15PM

  11. massa shud be ordered to start race 50 car lengths­ ahead of all others on starting grid
    as compensation­ for them troubling him all season

    then he only needs­ to win by more than 50 car lengths to be totally fair ­ .,., !

    From raymonda222, on Sat 25 Oct 9:13PM

  12. Hate these Yahoo invalid comments..Bruno has natural­ talent. Perhaps it’s in the genes.

    From JAYANTILAL, on Sat 25 Oct 7:14PM

  13. Ginger g. Lack of personal fiancé kept KR in carting­ longer then normal. He had a hard road to F1WDC. I am­ happy he made it. But I think he was one of the­ exceptions, However as you are well aware the F1­ teams normally give the top one or two in the GP2 a­ try out in F1 hence the name feeder series. It’s either­ that or Teams young Drivers Development Programme. ­ Unlike most of his competitors Bruno has not had the­ benefit of the latter. That’s why I think he is a­ rough diamond.

    From JAYANTILAL, on Sat 25 Oct 7:09PM

  14. watsa matta with you marnio whysa ya acting so mad itsa­ notsa ferari fault that ta their sa so bloody bad itsa­ massa making a messa of things and sa the lewis­ hamiltion much cha how do you a say it a yes sa BETTER­ DRIVER

    From wayne.self, on Sat 25 Oct 3:37PM

  15. get takauma sato for renault!

    From derek e, on Sat 25 Oct 1:09PM

  16. DOUBLE WORLD CHAMP ALONSO SO DESERVES FURTHER­ SUCCESS

    HIS SUPERIOR DRIVING SKILL KEEPS HIM OUT OF­ TROUBLE ,.,.,. BRAVO,, BON CHANCE

    From Lucie D, on Sat 25 Oct 12:10PM

  17. More spew from pond.simba

    From Biggles, on Fri 24 Oct 9:51AM

  18. patel: A pre-F1 CV doesn't need to be spectacular. ­ I point you towards Kimi Raikkonen who won 13 races out­ of 23 in his first ever professional year of full­ racing. He started his second full year and 24th ever­ full race in a Sauber on the F1 grid. His third season­ professional season saw him take a drive with Mclaren. ­ So after only 2 years of car racing (he had an­ extensive karting background) he was in a Mclaren­ Mercedes.

    From ginger_gitt, on Fri 24 Oct 12:21AM

  19. Noting to write home about in F3 & 2006,2007 In­ 2008 found himself on the sidelines, adopting the role­ of test driver at Renault, However fellow Renault­ Development Driver Ben Hanley was dropped by the Campos­ squad after a mere six starts in the GP2 main series­ and He was promoted in his place. He enjoyed an­ excellent sequence of races, winning three times and­ amassing enough points to rank third overall at the end­ of the year behind Giorgio Pantano and Bruno Senna. Di­ Grassi CV is hardly anything to write home about..­ Unfortunately Pantano is getting on a bit & has­ missed the boat. Bruno Senna on the other hand is a­ rough diamond. He has been four years out of the sport­ and unlike ALL his competitors has not been supported­ under a manufactures development program. And­ considering that I think his performance is amazing. ­ He has natural talent. If he was given a chance to­ develop it in the right team think what he could do.

    From JAYANTILAL, on Thu 23 Oct 11:23PM

  20. The most impressive & consistent driver was neither­ Pantano or Senna but Di Grassi, especially as he had­ fewer races in which to make his mark.

    From dennis.robb2, on Thu 23 Oct 10:24PM
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