2011 GP2 Series champion Romain Grosjean says that he is still hoping for a chance to drive for the Renault F1 team in 2012, saying that the chance to partner the team's new signing Kimi Raikkonen would be "quite special".
Grosjean is one of three drivers believed to be in the frame for the seat alongside the 2007 champion, along with Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna.The team could also choose to place one of the drivers in the seat temporarily, assuming that injured driver Robert Kubica would be able to make a return during the season.
Grosjean enjoyed two Friday practice runouts with the Renault squad at the end of last season, after securing the GP2 Series title.
And speaking at last weekend's Race of Champpions in Dusseldorf, he told reporters that he was still hopeful that he might be picked for the spare seat.
"I think I'm still on the list. I'm hoping for sure to get the seat," he explained regarding his future, adding that it would be a great opportunity to partner Raikkonen.
"I dream about F1 and I really would like to come back, and I think especially with Kimi it could be something quite special for my career and for my experience.
"I'm still waiting. I think I did everything I could when I had the car in my hands and now I'll try to work it out and find a solution."
But he admitted that he was not really sure of his chances, saying that he felt differently about his hopes every day.
"It changes every morning - it depends on my mood," he mused when asked how confident he was feeling, "This morning I was in quite a good mood, but it's difficult to say.
"If you don't believe in it, you don't try. So far, I believe in it."
And despite Raikkonen having taken one of the seats at the team, leaving the long-term Renault employees scrapping over a single seat, he said that the signing was a good move for the team.
"Nobody was expecting it, which was really cool. That was the case for everybody, myself as well. They told me just a little bit before, but yeah I was surprised," he smiled.
"But I knew for the team it was something interesting and something good for the future."
Grosjean raced for Renault throughout the second half of 2009, but with minimal preparation he was unable to match team mate Fernando Alonso.
Since then, he has returned to junior formulae, winning the Auto GP crown in 2010 and the GP2 title this year.
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