Mere days before the Italian grand prix, the identity of Caterham's second race driver is still unclear. Reports from Japan suggest Kamui Kobayashi will definitely not be back at the wheel of the car at Monza, having already sat out Spa-Francorchamps.
After reigning Le Mans winner Andre Lotterer and his sponsor Hype filled in at Spa, it was expected that Spanish rookie Roberto Merhi and his Russian backers had now put up the rumoured EUR 300,000 for the Monza seat this weekend.
But new speculation reports that Merhi, 23, admitted mere hours ago that "I still do not have the super license. I have to do 300 kilometres" in a F1 car. Merhi is a former F3 euroseries champion, but the FIA is apparently nervous about a rookie getting his first experience of a F1 car at the sport's highest-speed circuit. The Red Bull junior Carlos Sainz jr has also been linked with the Monza seat, but also still in the running is Lotterer.
"We're still in touch," German Lotterer, who impressed at Spa but retired early during the Belgian grand prix, told Racer when asked about Caterham, "and I think there's opportunities to do more races. It was a great experience for me and I have to look at the schedule and see if it is more of a one-off chapter for me or if it makes sense to do more."
Monza does not clash with the calendars for Lotterer's two racing responsibilities this year; Super Formula in Japan and the world endurance championship. "(At Spa) it felt like everybody at Audi was behind me and all of the people who supported my career before and in Japan," he added. (GMM)
Lotterer keeps in touch with Caterham for more races
- Published on 02 Sep 2014 14:43
-
0
- By: Rob Veenstra
.
Trending news
-
Why Wolff isn't worried about Norris repeating Verstappen's comebackToto Wolff has played down the threat posed by Lando Norris's closing title deficit, pointing to Max Verstappen&#...
25 Aug 2026 11:55 -
Antonelli admits Mercedes has lost its speed advantageAndrea Kimi Antonelli has confirmed what Mercedes feared: the team no longer has the fastest car on the grid. Speakin...
25 Aug 2026 16:11 -
Steiner's stark warning to Russell: top team days could be overGeorge Russell faces intense scrutiny after being told by Guenther Steiner that he must improve immediately or risk e...
25 Aug 2026 15:09 -
Why Alonso rates Verstappen above Schumacher as his greatest rivalFernando Alonso has named Max Verstappen the best competitor he has ever faced on track, placing the Red Bull driver ...
25 Aug 2026 14:08 -
Why Toto Wolff believes Max Verstappen's new Red Bull contract ends the 2025 silly seasonToto Wolff believes the driver market has effectively closed after Max Verstappen committed his future to Red Bull Ra...
25 Aug 2026 12:56
Dutch Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Dutch Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
-
Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
-
-
-
Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
-
-
-
Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
-
-
-
Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
-
-
-
Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
-
-
-
Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
-
-
-
Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
-
-
Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
-
-
Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
-
-
World Championship standings 2026
Pos
Driver
Team
Points
Pos
Team
Points
Related news
Give your opinion!
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Driver profile
- Team Williams
- Points 1,343
- Podiums 29
- Grand Prix 244
- Country Spain
- Date of b. Sep 1 1994 (31)
- Place of b. Madrid, Spain
- Weight 66 kg
- Length 1.78 m
- 42,887 comments on Williams
4 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Carlos Sainz jr
Replies (0)
Login to reply