Interview
FIA F2
Sirotkin will remain in GP2 in 2016
GP2's star rookie Sergey Sirotkin says he's "100 percent" sure he will stay in GP2 in 2016 for a title assault and says the decision is due right after the post-season Yas Marina test.
Valentin Khorounzhiy
Edited: Dec 1, 2015, 1:54 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Sirotkin, 20, raced for Rapax in his debut GP2 season and finished third in the standings as the top series newcomer.
The former Sauber development driver is yet to commit to a team for 2016, but has no doubts he will remain in GP2.
"I'm 100 percent certain I'm staying in the series, but I don't yet know with which team," he told Motorsport.com. "We're talking to all the top teams."
"The seats at DAMS are taken, but all the others we're talking to. The priority is either Rapax or ART. Possibly Prema as well. Either way, nothing is signed yet – we'll be having meetings at Abu Dhabi."
Sirotkin is now to take part in GP2's post-season test, which will take place at Yas Marina on December 2-4. It has been confirmed he will run with Racing Engineering on Wednesday.
“We'll see how the tests go. Either way, I think I'll sign with someone [after the test]. The contracts are ready in many teams – we'll pick which one to sign.”
The Russian conceded he was unsure if he could fight for the title with his current Rapax squad.
"Of course, we want to make the decision soon. I'd like to stay with Rapax, but the priority is to achieve the goal, which is the title.
"If I can do that with Rapax, that would be great, because I have never been in this good an atmosphere with any other team. It's really cool and it would be upsetting if we had to part ways."
"But the goal is 'winning the title', not 'remaining in my comfort zone'.
“At Rapax, in terms of pace over one lap, we need to make not just a step, but a leap forward. That's the goal, but it's obvious that others will progress as well. And I am not sure we can catch them."
Special relationship with Rapax
Sirotkin had joined Italian squad Rapax on the heels of a difficult 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 season, where he was outscored by rookie Oliver Rowland at Fortec.
However, the new relationship quickly yielded Rapax's first win in GP2 since 2013 - and the teams' best finish in the standings since Pastor Maldonado's 2010 title.
"We had no idea we could do so well," Sirotkin said. "We thought fifth or seventh [in the drivers' standings] would be achievable in the rookie season.
"The team hasn't excelled in the recent years, so it would've been stupid to expect us to be quicker than everyone else. Plus, the grid this year was very strong.
"But right now, the entire team is basically working around me – like with Michael Schumacher at Ferrari. They all know what I want, how I want it. I don't have to ask for anything. They never argue. If I ask for something, they do it.
"In all honesty, if you consider the number of troubles and silly mechanical faults that we had this year, then just getting rid of them should be enough for the title next season. We just need to make small gains."
Interview by Oleg Karpov
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Alexander Rossi is 2015 GP2 Series Vice Champion
Next article Wehrlein joins GP2's post-season Abu Dhabi test
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Valentin Khorounzhiy
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
WTCR
WTCR
Hungaroring
Mar 13, 2020
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Mar 12, 2020
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
General
General Mar 11, 2020
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
More from
Sergey Sirotkin
Sirotkin joins GT World Challenge Europe enduros with SMP
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Jul 8, 2020
Sirotkin joins GT World Challenge Europe enduros with SMP
Sirotkin to stay as Renault F1 reserve in 2020
Formula 1
Formula 1 Jun 30, 2020
Sirotkin to stay as Renault F1 reserve in 2020
Sirotkin replaces stranded Lundgaard for F2 testing
FIA F2
FIA F2 Feb 29, 2020
Sirotkin replaces stranded Lundgaard for F2 testing
More from
Rapax
Motorsport.com's Top 20 junior single-seater drivers of 2017
FIA F2
FIA F2 Dec 3, 2017
Motorsport.com's Top 20 junior single-seater drivers of 2017
Binder to replace Merhi in Jerez F2 round
FIA F2
FIA F2
Jerez
Oct 2, 2017
Binder to replace Merhi in Jerez F2 round
McLaren's de Vries unfazed by F1 test snub
Formula 1
Formula 1 Jul 27, 2017
McLaren's de Vries unfazed by F1 test snub
Latest news
BMW "proud of what we achieved" after securing runner-up in 2026 WEC
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
1 h
BMW "proud of what we achieved" after securing runner-up in 2026 WEC
The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
3 h
The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down
2027 Formula E drivers and teams: The line-up so far
Formula E
FE Formula E 5 h
2027 Formula E drivers and teams: The line-up so far
Kimi Antonelli meets Italian president Sergio Mattarella
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 5 h
Kimi Antonelli meets Italian president Sergio Mattarella
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe