Nakajima eager to repay Williams faith

The Japanese had been widely expected to stay on for a second season with Williams after some encouraging results in his rookie campaign.

But his team waited until this week to confirm their decision to retain him alongside Nico Rosberg, which comes on the back of his best ever qualifying result in Singapore last weekend.

Speaking ahead of his home grand prix in Japan next week, Nakajima said he felt that Singapore proved he was now on top of his game - as he sets his sights on a strong finish to the campaign.

"The season has been a little bit up and down," Nakajima told autosport.com. "After the Spanish GP I was coming quite good and in some of the races I was quite close to Nico.

"Then, in the last two races at Spa and Monza, I struggled a lot, although Monza was tricky with the weather. So it was important to come back to a good position again (in Singapore).

"There are only three races to go and it is very important to finish the season in good shape. Plus, the Japanese GP is next, so everything is coming quite good."

Team boss Williams is equally optimistic about Nakajima's potential - after feeling he had shown his strength in Singapore.

"He seems to have shadowed Nico by one tenth or two tenths all weekend, and he is coming along," said Williams. "He it totally apolitical and works very hard - and I hope for his sake he makes it."