Williams development driver Alex Lynn rules out third season in GP2
Williams development driver Alex Lynn has ruled out a third season in GP2 with his attention firmly on securing a Formula 1 race seat in 2017
The 22-year-old, who drives for the DAMS team in GP2, won his second race of the season last time out in Germany but trails Russian Sergey Sirotkin by 41 points in the standings.
"I would definitely rule out another year of GP2, that definitely won't happen," he told Autosport. "It's all about a race seat in F1.
"I want to move on from the junior ranks and be a Formula 1 race driver and move on in my career and my life."
Lynn was made development driver by Williams at the start of 2015 and has continued in that role this term, testing for the team at the in-season tests in Barcelona and Silverstone.
His priority now is to secure a race seat with Williams next season, although Autosport understands this is unlikely given his lack of F1 experience.
A reserve role is a more realistic possibility with current drivers Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa plus Jenson Button, Felipe Nasr and Sergio Perez believed to be in contention for the race seats.
"A Williams seat is 100% my priority," he said. "I have had talks with Williams, but it's difficult.
"I've tried to prove myself in the car and I'm confident i've done that so I'll keep asking and keep pushing."
When asked if he would consider a reserve role next year if a race seat wasn't available he said: "I would only probably accept that if there was a guaranteed contract for the year after or if it looked very good for a contract the year after."
Deputy team principal Claire Williams said Lynn is "hugely talented" and she has been impressed with his work ethic.
"He's so passionate about being in F1 and I've rarely seen that, someone so desperate to be in this sport and prove what he can do," she told Autosport.
"He's hugely talented, he's got the speed and he's got the makings of a great F1 driver.
"I hope we will see him in F1 one day."
Williams technical director Pat Symonds said Lynn is a driver who "deserves a place in Formula 1".
He added: "He's done a very competent job for us.
"We've given him some quite onerous tasks rather than the ability to run plenty of new tyres and low fuel and he's approached it in a professional way which has impressed all of us.
"I do feel sorry that he hasn't had that chance to push the car a bit more but with only four days in testing, you have to make each run count and in Barcelona and Silverstone, he did some good work for us."
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