Luiz Razia aims for a place in F1 for 2013

Luiz Razia believes he is making progress in his quest for an F1 seat. The Arden driver in GP2 this season finished in second place in the drivers’ championship behind Davide Valsecchi and, like his Italian counterpart, he is looking to climb the final step this winter to be in F1 in 2013.

The 23-year-old Brazilian driver believes he has a chance to drive a Formula 1 car during the young drivers’ tests in Abu Dhabi, and he also thinks he has a chance to be a main driver next year.

He has already tasted Formula 1, notably during tests for young drivers with Virgin in 2010, Team Lotus in 2011, and Sahara Force India at the beginning of September. Razia feels ready for this new step, as he told *Autosport*: “Things are moving in a positive direction for next year. There was a big question mark over my career at the end of 2011, but after this year – which has been a brilliant one for us – it has opened up opportunities. If I hadn’t had such results, it would have been difficult to convince the teams (in F1), but now the teams are positive. It’s not easy to get into F1, but at least I have a chance today.”

Razia knows that an important element in F1 is financing – a driver, even talented, now has to bring money to his team – but that doesn’t worry him too much: « We are in regular contact with three or four teams and currently, the main objective is to be on the grid. There is also a possibility to participate in the Abu Dhabi tests, and that’s something we need to finalize. I know that every team is looking for partners, but I have some investors who are interested in advancing my career. »