The Caterham F1 Team is hoping to sign an experience racer to lead its 2014 line-up.
The Leafield-based outfit is looking to find a combination of experience and young blood to help the team move forward next season.
The team hired Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli for its F1 debut - under the name 'Team Lotus' - in 2010. Kovalainen was dropped by the team for the 2013 season and was replaced with rookie Giedo van der Garde and second-year driver Charles Pic.
However, the Finn stayed as their reserve driver and has been strongly linked to a return to the team in 2014.
Out of their two current drivers, van der Garde is thought to be in with the best chance of being retained due to his stronger financial backing. GP2 race winner Marcus Ericsson and reserve driver Alexander Rossi are also believed to be in contention for a drive.
Caterham team principal Cyril Abiteboul said the aim is to have a balanced line-up for 2014.
"A combination of experience and younger blood is something that will make sense," he is quoted by AUTOSPORT. "As Caterham, we are committed to young people, to young talent. So I think that will stay.
"Experience is nice to have because it gives everyone confidence in terms of feedback and analysis, because next year we will be completely blind at the start.
"Of course there will be plenty of data, but there will be so much information to digest that it may be useful to have a driver who gives proper orientation just to save you time.
"What I don't want to have is the excuse that 'it is not the car, it is the driver'. A driver who we know is capable is something we would like to have."
The 36-year-old admitted that Kovalainen isn't the only experienced driver in with a chance of a drive at Caterham, as he expects several others to find themselves without a seat.
"Heikki is one of the options and you see that there is a lot of movement in the paddock," he said. "I know we are not considered as a priority where we are by some experienced drivers, but maybe there will be more experienced drivers than there are seats available.
"You have [Daniil] Kvyat entering the sport, you have [Kevin] Magnussen entering the sport, you only have one retirement which is [Mark] Webber, so something has to happen.
"We are open to talent, and proven talent, and there are very capable drivers both inside and outside of F1, and lots of discussions going on. What I would like is to have something sorted out very quickly."
Meanwhile, AUTOSPORT believes 2013 Sauber rookie Esteban Gutierrez visited Caterham's HQ on Wednesday.
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| (c) Caterham F1 Team |
The Leafield-based outfit is looking to find a combination of experience and young blood to help the team move forward next season.
The team hired Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli for its F1 debut - under the name 'Team Lotus' - in 2010. Kovalainen was dropped by the team for the 2013 season and was replaced with rookie Giedo van der Garde and second-year driver Charles Pic.
However, the Finn stayed as their reserve driver and has been strongly linked to a return to the team in 2014.
Out of their two current drivers, van der Garde is thought to be in with the best chance of being retained due to his stronger financial backing. GP2 race winner Marcus Ericsson and reserve driver Alexander Rossi are also believed to be in contention for a drive.
Caterham team principal Cyril Abiteboul said the aim is to have a balanced line-up for 2014.
"A combination of experience and younger blood is something that will make sense," he is quoted by AUTOSPORT. "As Caterham, we are committed to young people, to young talent. So I think that will stay.
"Experience is nice to have because it gives everyone confidence in terms of feedback and analysis, because next year we will be completely blind at the start.
"Of course there will be plenty of data, but there will be so much information to digest that it may be useful to have a driver who gives proper orientation just to save you time.
"What I don't want to have is the excuse that 'it is not the car, it is the driver'. A driver who we know is capable is something we would like to have."
The 36-year-old admitted that Kovalainen isn't the only experienced driver in with a chance of a drive at Caterham, as he expects several others to find themselves without a seat.
"Heikki is one of the options and you see that there is a lot of movement in the paddock," he said. "I know we are not considered as a priority where we are by some experienced drivers, but maybe there will be more experienced drivers than there are seats available.
"You have [Daniil] Kvyat entering the sport, you have [Kevin] Magnussen entering the sport, you only have one retirement which is [Mark] Webber, so something has to happen.
"We are open to talent, and proven talent, and there are very capable drivers both inside and outside of F1, and lots of discussions going on. What I would like is to have something sorted out very quickly."
Meanwhile, AUTOSPORT believes 2013 Sauber rookie Esteban Gutierrez visited Caterham's HQ on Wednesday.
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