Sergey Sirotkin insists his focus remains on doing a good enough job to earn his way on to the Formula 1 grid, despite rumours linking him with a mid-season move into the Renault Sport Formula 1 Team.
Jolyon Palmer’s future has remained hazy this season after the Briton has failed to score a point in the opening eight races of the season, and Sirotkin has taken part in three free practice sessions for the team so far this season as part of his role as test and reserve driver.
“To be honest, there are many rumours and there are many things, but I’ve been extremely busy the last two months,” said Sirotkin. “To be honest I didn’t think at all about if I’m getting closer or not or what is the situation.
“I know the job I need to do. I know what the team expects of me. I know what to expect from the team, so we’ll work together as we should work. And then we will see where we end up.”
Sirotkin wants to be on the Formula 1 grid full-time in 2018, and believes he is getting closer and closer to the opportunity, although plans for next year are still to be discussed.
“Again, this is a little bit too far in the future now,” said Sirotkin to Crash.net. “Obviously the F1 seat is the final target for all of us. This is where we are going step by step.
“Now we are a step closer, and I think we’re now entering the part of the year where we should start to think more properly about what we do and how we do.”
