Alexander Rossi aims to one day return to Formula 1 Grand Prix racing but is currently looking at options in the Verizon IndyCar Series and the FIA World Endurance Championship for the 2016 season.
After losing out to a race seat with Manor Racing this season, who opted for Pascal Wehrlein and Rio Haryanto, the American’s focus is still Formula 1.
“There are no F1 race seats open, but at the same time I’ve been involved in F1 for so long that I believe I deserve to be on the grid,” he told Motorsport.com.
“So I’m going to try to keep my foot in the door this year in some capacity, for sure, and I’m going to try to put something together for the future. F1 still remains the focus, whatever I end up doing this year. But I need to be racing, I need to stay competitive.”
When asked about the rumoured deal with IndyCar team, Andretti Autosport-Herta, Rossi said, “We’ve had some discussions but we’re also looking at things in other disciplines, like WEC. We’re looking at all the options.”
After a strong GP2 Series season last year, finishing the driver standings in second behind Stoffel Vandoorne, Rossi wants to carry this momentum into his 2016 season.
“I need to be racing this year and I will be racing this year. What? I don’t personally know yet,” said Rossi.
“We gained a lot of momentum in 2015, had a strong year in GP2 and made those five Grand Prix after what was honestly a very challenging three years for me in Europe. The last thing we’d want to do is stop that momentum, so I want to be somewhere I can race at the front and show what I’m capable of.”
With no current racing experience on oval tracks, if an opportunity presented itself, Rossi believes he would have no problem racing.
“I don’t have any issues racing on ovals if that opportunity presents itself,” he said. “There’ll be a learning curve just like anything, but in terms of a personal apprehension about ovals, I don’t have any of that.
“Teams are approaching their deadlines. We’re approaching the end of February and things are about to kick off, so teams need answers from our side. I’d expect a decision to be made – hopefully! – by the end of next week.”
