Sergey Sirotkin says he hopes to make a return to Formula 1 for 2020 after missing out on a seat for next year.
The Russian driver raced with Williams Martini Racing for the 2018 Formula 1 Season, but Sirotkin only recorded one point out of the twenty one races, finishing in twentieth in the drivers’ championship.
Sirotkin, backed by SMP, won the drive in 2018 by impressing Williams in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi, where he competed with Robert Kubica for the seat. But in 2019, Sirotkin lost out as Kubica was announced to takeover the Russian’s seat, partnering alongside FIA Formula 2 champion George Russell.
Since his departure from F1, Sirotkin has tested with Audi in the DTM series in Jerez and has been linked with a development driver role with Scuderia Ferrari, but Sirotkin told Tass News Agency that no word has been made yet.
“Now we are trying to collect all the options, but I think there will be no specifics in the next two weeks,” Sirotkin said.
“If there is something, then at best it will be after the New Year holidays.”
The twenty-three year old added that losing the Williams seat was difficult, but he plans to be back on the F1 grid in 2020.
“Certainly it was a difficult experience, but it made me stronger,” added the Russian.
“I have a clear understanding that, for objective reasons, I didn’t show everything that I could have shown. But I also have a clear awareness that everything is not finished for me in formula one.
“I don’t want to give up in any way. I really hope that in a year I will return to the starting grid and prove that it was the right decision to come to Formula One.”
