Following the successful completion of a comprehensive testing programme at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi earlier this week, Mercedes GP protégé Sam Bird has reiterated his ultimate desire to contest a full Grand Prix in the future.
Admitting that his track time was more about 2012 development than extracting outright speed from the team's current package, the British driver is hopeful that his extensive input can help pave the way for a much stronger start next year.
"It was obviously a pleasure working with the Mercedes GP Petronas team, I’ve been working with them for a year now," Bird, who finished sixth overall in GP2 this season, explained to GPUpdate.net. "I think that the three days that we did in Abu Dhabi were very, very positive, and I believe that they will have a good outcome for 2012.
"We worked pretty much on crucial areas for the whole test. The test for us wasn’t about going quickly, it was about understanding what we need to do in order to make ourselves even more competitive for the following year. So that was the aim, and I think that we collected a good amount of data to go away and establish where we need to go from there.
"It’s a privilege to do it and I really enjoyed getting my teeth into the job, it was fantastic. Because testing is so restricted now, any chance to drive the F1 car is a privilege. I’d like to think sooner rather than later I can potentially get a chance to drive in a Grand Prix, that is the ultimate goal but I’m more than happy with my three days of work."
In terms of Friday outings with the squad next season, Bird is unsure as to whether any opportunities will arise, but insists that it is ‘an exciting time’ for his career.
"We’ll have to wait and see, I think it’s too early to say yet. Obviously I’d love to, but time will tell. We have to make up our minds within the next month or so as to what we do (full time in 2012), but it’s an exciting time to find out what we do next year."
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