Brazil's Bruno Senna says he is close to following his late uncle Ayrton Senna into Formula 1 next season.
The 26-year-old has been linked with Campos Meta Racing, who will join the grid for the first time in 2010, but he is also holding talks with other teams.
"Negotiations are going forward with Campos," he told BBC Sport
"It is more likely that I will join one of the new teams in 2010 and we're coming quite close to negotiating a good deal in F1"
Senna revealed that he has been in discussions about an F1 race seat for the last few months, holding talks with an existing outfit as well as 2010's new teams - Campos Meta Racing, Lotus and Manor GP - with the exception of USF1.
The Brazilian is hopeful of determining where his future lies before the season finale in Abu Dhabi on 1 November but will take his time weighing up all the options.
"I'm looking for a team that has the potential to deliver results and consistency," he added.
 | There is definitely a lot of pressure and expectation on me but that's motor racing and you have to learn how to deal with it Bruno Senna |
"It's vital to be in Formula 1 next year as maybe it will be lost if it doesn't happen then.
"The best possibilities are with the new teams. There are a few good propositions on the table and we seem to be quite close. I'm keen to get going next year."
However, Senna ruled out a move to the new Lotus F1 team for sentimental reasons alone. It was with Lotus that three-time world champion Ayrton Senna claimed his first ever pole position and victory in 1985.
"I'm not the most sentimental person in the world," said Senna, who finished as runner-up in the 2008 GP2 feeder series.
"We are talking to Lotus but it's not the same team as before. I worked at the Goodwood Festival with some of the guys who were at the team with Ayrton but in F1 it's different now."
Senna tested with Honda last November before the Japanese car manufacturer withdrew from F1 at the end of the year.
When the team was rescued by team principal Ross Brawn, he opted to retain the experienced duo of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello at the expense of the promising Senna.
Brawn are now on the verge of sealing the constructors' crown at the Brazilian Grand Prix, while both Button and Barrichello are vying for the drivers' championship along with Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel.
| 606: DEBATE Lauren1405 |
Senna, who is driving in the Le Mans sportscar series this season, says he has mixed feelings about the team's success after he was overlooked for a race seat.
"I am happy for them, obviously, as I've spent some days testing with the team in the past," said Senna, who was visiting his hometown grand prix in Sao Paulo.
"I'd love to be there myself and having a good championship but that's life and you have to get on with it."
Senna also shrugged off the weight of expectation that would follow him into F1 if he returned the legendary Senna name to the sport.
The 26-year-old is the son of Ayrton Senna's sister, Viviane Lalli, but he believes he is already used to handling the intense spotlight of Brazilian motorsport.
"There is definitely a lot of pressure and expectation on me but that's motor racing and you have to learn how to deal with it," he added.
"Many times the pressure only comes when you are successful but you are better off starting with it and learning how to cope."
The remaining race seats for 2010 are likely to be decided after the final race of the season in two weeks' time.
Now Fernando Alonso's move to Ferrari has been confirmed for 2010, with Robert Kubica replacing him at Renault, attention has shifted to Brawn and McLaren.
Barrichello has confirmed that he has held talks with Williams and Nico Rosberg has been tipped to go in the opposite direction and replace him at Brawn. However, with both championships still to be decided Ross Brawn says he will not make any firm decisions until the end of the season.
After being released from his Ferrari contract, Kimi Raikkonen has been linked with a return to McLaren in place of Heikki Kovalainen, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
Kovalainen in turn has been linked with both Renault and Toyota, who may decide not to retain either Jarno Trulli or Timo Glock next season.
The expanded grid in 2010 also increases the chances for former drivers such as Anthony Davidson, who has been linked to Lotus, and new names such as Renault reserve driver Lucas di Grassi, Williams reserve Nico Hulkenberg and Senna.
0 comments:
Post a Comment