Bianchi hopes F1 test showed potential for race seat with Ferrari

The 24-year-old Frenchman was drafted in by Ferrari to fill in for Kimi Raikkonen, who was unavailable after his accident on the first lap of the British Grand Prix.

While the Ferrari junior downplayed any possibility of a race seat in the next 18 months, he was confident that his performance will have helped to show that he is ready if a seat becomes available in the future.

"Considering that I am part of the [Ferrari Driver] Academy, I think it [a race seat] is a target one day, so I have to show them I am ready and then we will see," said Bianchi.

"But at the moment, they have two drivers who are doing a good job.

"I know that it is not the plan for next year, because they have a plan for the [current] drivers so I will just try to focus on what I have to do, which is with Marussia and trying to get good results.

"I have shown the team I can work well, that I can be quick, but it was a day of testing so it was not the target to compare me with other drivers, the target was to improve the car and try to help the team, so I think I've done my job."

Bianchi completed 89 laps during the test, setting a best mark of 1m35.262s, faster than either of Ferrari's regular drivers managed during the British GP weekend.

That comparison is of limited value because weather conditions meant the Ferrari drivers set their best times during Friday free practice, during which the full potential of the car was not unleashed, but it shows Bianchi's pace was at least good.

As part of the test programme, it is understood some experiments were run with the view to FRIC suspension being banned from the German GP onwards.

"We had a test programme which was pretty busy and we did nearly everything, so I'm happy with that," said Bianchi.

"We did more than aero, it was some setup work. We were trying to find some solutions to improve the car and they could see some interesting things."