Video: Senna upbeat about rookie year

Hispania has struggled to match the pace of fellow new teams Lotus and Virgin, and Senna has retired seven times due to mechanical failures this year.

But he is happy that he has been performing well and is hoping to earn the opportunity to stay in F1.

"For me the important thing is not to be looking at the immediate results but to be patient and looking to the future," he told AUTOSPORT. "I know that if I can perform well, do better than the car can, am always in front of my team-mate... then I will probably give myself an opportunity to continue in Formula 1 for more years.

"On a few occasions this year I've done probably the best qualifying performances of my life, but of course it didn't show. I think Monaco was a good qualifying performance, Turkey was very good as well, Hockenheim was quite strong. Monaco and Turkey races were very strong, unfortunately we didn't finish. Many times I'm happy, many times I'm really upset with myself, like Valencia where I made a bad mistake on my qualifying lap and ended up starting behind my team-mate.

"I am really learning a lot this year. Being in difficulty can always help you to grow up and to be stronger. You got to do some work outside the track as well to understand what's going on, what you're doing and what's possible to be done."

Senna also believes both he and HRT have a good chance of returning to F1 next year.

"From what I see, the team is planning next year," he said. "They are preparing the development of a new car, of course using the current car as a base. I think they should be okay to finish this year and to be there next year. They are working hard, it's been a really difficult year and we managed to make it through, so I guess they are on a good note for next year.

"For this season, I'm pretty certain I'll be in the cockpit until Abu Dhabi. For next year my first option is to stay with the team, but it's not certain yet. We haven't done proper negotiations for next year.

"Of course we're talking to many people in the paddock to make sure I get opportunities in other places as well if they're available. The priority right now is to perform as well as I can and make a point that I can be competitive in any car. We're talking and we're doing the work inside and outside the track and I think the odds are not so bad."