Alex Lynn thinks the forthcoming 2016 season will be a “key year” for his future in motor racing, as he seeks to win the GP2 Series title and extend his relationship with Williams.
Having won the GP3 Series in 2014, the Briton then graduated to GP2 with renowned outfit DAMS where he delivered a steady rookie season. Two wins and a pair of pole positions helped Lynn to a sixth-place finish in the Drivers’ standings.
Returning for a second campaign in Formula One’s official feeder series, the 22-year-old knows how crucial the next 12 months will be for his career.
“I believe [2016] is the key year for me,” Lynn told Essex's Daily Gazette.
“No matter what motorsport arena I’m in, whether it’s F1 or anything, next year will be the one to put myself in the shop window to prove that I’m able to deliver.
“Every year is the big one, but that really is the case for me this year: it is the big one.
“I’m focused on GP2 to put myself in the shop window and I’ll see what things open up for me. There’s pressure with that, but I like it to be honest as it makes me feel quite confident.”
Lynn was also appointed to an F1 development driver role at Williams at the start of the 2015 season, with the Essex racer driving the FW37 in the post-Spanish Grand Prix test (pictured above).
The Briton hopes he can carry on dovetailing his GP2 commitments with an extended spell at the Grove-based squad.
“I have had really positive feedback and built up positive relationships with key members of the team.
“I think I contributed a fair amount to the team’s success last year and I’d love the opportunity to continue that.”
Besides regular drivers Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas, Williams currently has Canadian teenager Lance Stroll on its roster. Former test and development driver Susie Wolff bowed out of motor racing at the end of last year, while it remains to be seen whether Adrian Sutil will keep a reserve role for 2016.
Key dates for the 2016 F1 season
Playing the joker: Sebastian Vettel
Technical feature: All of the 2015 F1 steering wheels
Use the red tabs on either side of the screen to scroll through more Formula One news and features
When F1’s radically redesigned 2026 cars finally roll out in Barcelona at the end of…
Max Verstappen has never been one to sugar-coat reality – and as Formula 1 braces…
Ferrari have survived decades of criticism about strategy calls, driver politics and pit stops that…
While the paddock has been whispering for months that Mercedes might be holding the winning…
Dan Gurney passed away on this day in 2018, and here at F1i we'll never…
What began as a painful reminder of loss has ended with a moment of profound…