Valsecchi: I'm the alternative to Grosjean

Davide Valsecchi might have been a little quiet of late, but insists that he is still chasing an F1 seat for 2013, and could be the driver Lotus turns to if it loses faith in Romain Grosjean.

The new GP2 Series champion tested with the Enstone team and topped the times on the final day of the Abu Dhabi 'young driver' session, but has not been mentioned a great deal in terms of the various vacancies on next year's F1 grid. Despite that, however, the Italian believes that he still has a chance of partnering Kimi Raikkonen in 2013, despite opposition from current incumbent Grosjean, and both Kamui Kobayashi and Heikki Kovalainen, who have been linked to the seat.

"I don't wish anything bad against Grosjean," Valsecchi told Italy's Autosprint magazine, "but, if he's not there, then I see myself as the favourite [to replace him]."

Faced with the prospect of being only the second GP2 Series champion not to graduate to F1 - following in the footsteps of fellow countryman Giorgio Pantano - Valsecchi admits that it is too early to make any announcements as he continues to work on his options. Force India, Caterham and Marussia all also have openings for 2013, but have been linked, respectively, to Jules Bianchi, Giedo van der Garde and Max Chilton - all drivers Valsecchi has beaten in the last few years.

"It's perhaps too early to talk about it," the Italian concluded, "but my goal is to get into F1 and then prove that I deserve the chance."