Jolyon Palmer is targeting a race drive with Lotus F1 Team for 2016, having excelled in his role as Third and Reserve driver for the Enstone-based squad this season. Jolyon has driven in five FP1 sessions so far this season and compared extremely well with regular driver Pastor Maldonado, and that's given him the confidence to push for a full-time race seat with the team next year, he told Sky Sports.

"I don't want to be a test driver again next year, my aim is still to be racing with Lotus F1 Team and that is why I am here for the year," said Jolyon, whose current role is Third and Reserve Driver for the squad. "I have been told there could be an opportunity so I just have to try my best and show the team why they should take me," he continued.

The 2014 GP2 Champion has also performed excellently very strongly in a number of test sessions for the team, including finishing fastest on the second day of the in-season test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in May. Jolyon commented: "I am getting some time in the car, so I am getting an opportunity and, as far as I am aware, there could be a chance so I am just trying to grab it with both hands."

Whilst he is enjoying the chance to gain valuable seat time in the E23 Hybrid, Jolyon is still focused on the overall goals of the team: "The whole purpose for me being in the car is doing bits for the team. On a personal level getting experience for myself is great, but there is nothing I am doing for myself at the cost to the team." He has taken over driving duties from Frenchman Romain Grosjean in each session and believes this is useful for the team, stating: "it can be good to have a different driver's opinion on things on the car."

This is a view echoed by Trackside Operations Director Alan Permane, who in a recent interview with Autosport, commented: "Jolyon gives us excellent feedback and he is very good and calm and very happy to work through it. He's a welcome addition to the team."

Jolyon's pace has been consistently quick, especially when compared with Maldonado's speed in relative sessions. "Every time I get in the car for P1, we are on the same fuel loads, the same engine settings," he explained. "So for any given FP1 session, whatever we are doing is comparative and so far I am happy with the job I have done...It is good at the moment because I am managing to get consecutive runs, I am managing to keep on top of it and I am in the simulator as well, so it is all good experience for me," he continued.

As part of his role for the team, Jolyon will take part in a number of further Free Practice One sessions in  the remainder of the Grand Prix season, beginning with the next race in Hungary where he will compete in Friday's (24 July) 90-minute FP1 session at the Hungaroring.

Jolyon will also be appearing on The F1 Show on Sky Sports F1 channel this Friday evening at 8pm, where he will be joined by Le Mans 24 Hours winner, Nick Tandy.