Objective: Return to F1 in 2014 for Petrov, d’Ambrosio, and Kobayashi

When the Caterham team decided to renew its driver lineup at the end of the 2012 season, Vitaly Petrov paid the price. The Russian driver, who also saw his manager Oksana Kosachenko join the Leafield team, hopes to return to the Formula 1 Grand Prix grids in 2014.

Even without a manager, Petrov has been seeking out Russian business partners, but for the moment, as he told Speed Week, it’s not very promising: “Unfortunately, we’ve only been approached by Western companies so far, which is unfortunate, because ideally, I would like to return to F1 with Russian partners.”

Petrov has had interest in other categories but for now, he is really focusing on F1: « Negotiations are in progress and I am working very hard. I have received many offers for other championships and I have attended the races, but F1 is my priority. I will use all my strength to return to F1, because it is my life. »

Another driver in the same situation as Petrov, Kamui Kobayashi, although unlike the Russian, Kobayashi has found a seat for /f1/actualite/15625-kamui-kobayashi-va-piloter-pour-ferrari-lors-dun-roadshow.html. He drives a Ferrari 458 Italia in the World Endurance Championship for Ferrari.

This contract with Ferrari allows him to stay close to F1; he was present in Monaco for the Grand Prix and recently drove an F10 in Fiorano to prepare for a demonstration scheduled in Russia. He can also take advantage of the facilities at the Maranello team: I will have a chance to test the simulator in the near future. Personally, I want to return to F1 next year.

After being ousted by the Sauber team, Kobayashi launched a website for his fans to make donations to help him secure a full-time seat. However, having failed to be present in F1 this season, he plans to use this money for 2014 and if not, he intends to return the money to the donors: « This money was truly for an F1 seat. And if I don’t need to use it for an F1 seat next year, I want to return it to all those who donated. »

Jérôme d’Ambrosio was also in Formula 1 in 2011 at the wheel of the Virgin. Now a reserve driver for Lotus, he also wishes to make his return to F1 during the 2014 season. He believes that this will probably be his last chance to succeed in F1: “I am at a crossroads this year. We’ll see how things evolve, but I need to find a more active role on the circuits: I want to drive. At the end of the year, I will have to choose a direction,” the Belgian driver told us in Monaco a few weeks ago. “Once you’ve tasted F1, it’s very difficult to leave, nothing else has given me so much sensation. What I want is to race, and I miss it. The last race I did was replacing Romain [Grosjean] at Monza last year.”

Jérôme d’Ambrosio, aged 27, believes that if he doesn’t find a starting seat next year, he will have to reconsider his future: « It’s difficult to make a long-term plan in my situation. For now, I’m 200% focused on Formula 1, but it’s true that if good one-shot opportunities arise (endurance racing, for example…), I’ll take them, but F1 remains my priority.