Is this Frijns's last shot at F1?

Few drivers have as impressive a junior CV as Caterham's Robin Frijns.

After taking the 2010 Formula BMW Europe title, he won both the highly competitive Formula Renault Eurocup and Formula Renault 3.5 crowns as a rookie. He even managed a GP2 victory in a part-campaign with a brand new team last year.

On the way he has beaten Jules Bianchi, Daniil Kvyat and Kevin Magnussen, all of whom will line up on the Melbourne grid next month. Of recent F1 graduates, arguably only Nico Hulkenberg achieved more on his way up and yet Frijns is still waiting for his first F1 race chance.

But the 22-year-old is hoping his role as reserve driver at Caterham, alongside regular racers Kamui Kobayashi and Marcus Ericsson, could give him that opportunity. It comes after a stint at Sauber last year that yielded scant track running, and a change of management on a personal level.

"We all know in the middle of the [2013] season Sauber had financial problems and I didn't have any money," says Frijns. "Sauber needed money and they didn't get it from me. I knew what was going to happen.

"It felt like I couldn't get any further with my own management so I swapped. Little problems all came together and it didn't work out. Timo Gans is the manager now and I'm in a really happy place. It feels like a fresh start."

After not getting a chance behind the wheel on a grand prix weekend at Sauber, Frijns is understandably enthusiastic about Caterham's plan to put him out in some Friday practice sessions during 2014.

He also got a run at the pre-season Jerez test last week, despite electronics issues limiting the squad's running, something that could have been used as an excuse not to put the rookie in the car.

Frijns's career has stalled since beating Bianchi and Magnussen to 2012 FR 3.5 title... © LAT

"I'm sitting in a team now that really believes in me, and that's really important," says Frijns. "They gave me the opportunity to drive the car [at Jerez] even though Ericsson only drove 11 laps and I was scared that I would lose my day.

"That's just a sign for me that they really believe in me and really want to give me that opportunity to show myself."

Getting the chance to remind people of his abilities is something Frijns felt was key after a year on the sidelines, as former rivals like Bianchi, Kvyat and Magnussen made their mark in - or headed towards - F1.

"It was more frustrating because I can say that if you win three championships in a row, you are kind of good enough to get the next step into Formula 1," he says. "If you see other drivers who are in F1, and you see their CV and they haven't achieved a lot, it is frustrating. But this is how the world goes, you can't change it.

"I'm not saying I'm better than them but for sure I am driving the same pace as them. And they are in F1 so I know that I will get to F1. I've beaten them in other championships.

"The last time I drove single-seaters was in August with GP2, and by October I had a feeling that everyone had forgotten me. No one talked about me any more and Kevin was the star because he won Formula Renault 3.5, which I won the previous year against him.

"It was frustrating for me, and it was very stressful because I was just scared that I was losing my position."

Bearing that in mind, the Dutchman did consider racing in other categories, such as GTs, but he was not - and is not - ready to give up on the dream just yet.

"We were checking other classes out but I didn't want it," he admits. "My goal is to reach F1 and I will do everything for it."

...but he should get some proper F1 running with Caterham © LAT

With budget always an issue - "I am looking for sponsors but it's not easy these days" - it was crucial that Caterham's bosses saw Frijns's strengths as a driver.

"Cyril [Abiteboul] and Tony [Fernandes] really believe in me as a good driver," he asserts. "I can prove to the team that I am good and make the car quicker.

"Caterham really wants me to focus on F1 and not on other classes, and I had no budget [to do another series].

"I am in a good position now to make the next step next year but we will see how it goes."

That brings in the subject of time. How long can a driver afford to be in the reserve role in F1? One year was fine for Hulkenberg and Valtteri Bottas, but more than that and you start to get overlooked again.

Just ask GP2 runner-up Sam Bird, who has spent the past couple of seasons on Mercedes' books in a similar role and is now no closer to a race drive than before.

"Next year is a kind of limit really," concedes Frijns. "Of course, I want to be in a race seat as soon as possible, but if I'm not in one next year I don't know what is going to happen. I have no idea."

That's not unusual to hear from a young driver, especially in these days of limited sponsorship and pay-drivers, but at least Frijns has a lifeline.

Getting to drive the new CT05 in selected sessions is still some way from becoming an F1 racer of course, but what is important to one of the best drivers outside the championship is that he now has the chance to remind people what he can do.

"If I am sitting in the car, of course I will take it with two hands and I will do the best job for the team especially, but also for myself, to show what I am capable of," he says. "That's important for me.

"If you're sitting on the sidelines doing nothing, how can you prove to yourself that you are ready for Formula 1? You can't. You can say you are ready for F1, but everyone can say that. You have to prove it."

This feature also appears in the February 6 issue of AUTOSPORT magazine