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Bianchi believes he 'deserves' race seat
Jules Bianchi believes that he "deserves" a seat in Formula One after a season of Friday practice drivers for Force India.
Although a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, Bianchi has driven for Force India in ten Friday practice session so far this season and will appear again in FP1 at the United States Grand Prix. Having finished as runner-up in the World Series by Renault, Bianchi believes his time with Force India ensures he is ready to make the step up to a race seat in 2013.
"I learned a lot from this role and from driving in FP1," Bianchi told the official Ferrari website. "Even if I'd driven before at the previous year's Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi and also at Jerez, it's not the same as driving during a race weekend, because you are under a lot more pressure.
"I feel I have grown up a lot with this experience and I am now ready to be a race driver in Formula One. I hope I find an official seat for next year as this is definitely my dream. I feel I had a good season in World Series and did a good job with Force India as well, so I feel ready and think I deserve a seat in Formula One."
Bianchi revealed that he has learnt the Circuit of the Americas in the Ferrari simulator and during his time there has seen the team working hard to improve the car for the next race.
"When you start Friday practice, you must be able to go to the limit immediately otherwise you won't be competitive when it comes to qualifying and for this, the simulator is a great help and the best way to learn the track. The Austin track layout looks really interesting with many quick corners. The first part is similar to the first sector in Japan and then the Becketts complex at Silverstone. I think it will be very interesting in terms of driving, while there are also many slow corners.
"Overall, judging from the simulator, I'd say it's one of the best tracks. Everyone in Maranello has been working very hard to improve the performance of the F2012 for this race and, in my opinion, it should be competitive at the Circuit of the Americas. It is always difficult to overtake in Formula One, but in Austin, you have two heavy braking points with a long straight in between, so there should be plenty of overtaking opportunities this weekend."