D’Ambrosio is only thinking about F1 for 2013
The Belgian driver does not give up on the idea of being on the starting grid of the first Grand Prix of the season in Melbourne on March 17, 2013, even though he admits it will not be easy. The Belgian has also tried his hand at DTM, like Bruno Senna, just in case...
Jérôme D’Ambrosio is among the drivers trying to secure a seat for the 2013 Formula 1 season, and there are not many available seats left. Lotus is, on paper, the most attractive option since the team is taking its time renewing Romain Grosjean. Force India is also a good option, especially since it seems that money is not the overriding factor. There’s also Caterham, which needs to announce Charles Pic’s teammate, as well as Marussia, which hasn’t announced who will replace the Frenchman alongside Timo Glock next year.
So there is still hope for the Belgian, even though he admits himself that it won’t be easy: « Not everything is confirmed yet. We continue to work. It’s complicated, we will see what happens. Time will tell, » explains to Autosport, the one who was behind the wheel of the Lotus E20 in Monza.
It is true that the driver from the Brussels region faces numerous competitors. Heikki Kovalainen, Vitaly Petrov, Max Chilton, Bruno Senna, Sébastien Buemi, and many others are also in the running to be on the starting grids next season. « It’s very difficult, there are many drivers without a seat. Some have experience, others less so. All I can say is that I really love Formula 1. I loved being on the grid last year, even if it wasn’t in the best car. I enjoyed being in the car at Monza. It’s what I love to do, and I will fight to stay in F1 for as long as possible. »
If he does not manage to secure a full-time position, D’Ambrosio would re-sign as the third Lotus driver but with a real sports program alongside, unlike in 2012. Among the possible options is the German touring car championship, the DTM, where he tested one of the cars—a Mercedes—last week. But for now, it’s not his priority. « We will see when the time comes. It’s difficult not to race. If I have to spend another year as a third driver, then we will see what we will do. »
The future of the Belgian should be known in the coming weeks. At Interlagos, he explained on the RTBF [Belgian television] that it would take another two to three weeks before he could announce his future. Wait and see.
