American Rossi hopes F1 drive comes sooner rather than later

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  • Driving force: Alexander Rossi is aiming to break new ground for drivers from the USA.

    Alexander Rossi still has belief he will become the first American for many years to compete in Formula One before too long. Not since 2007 and Scott Speed at Toro Rosso has an American taken part in a grand prix, yet Rossi almost ended his country's wait at last weekend's race in Belgium. 

    On Thursday, due to what Marussia described as "contractual issues", Max Chilton's time with the Banbury-based marque appeared to be over. As reserve, and only recently taken on following his release from Caterham, 22-year-old Californian Rossi was told the seat was his for the weekend.

    Yet following what is understood to be intervention from majority shareholder Andrey Cheglakov, Chilton was reinstated following the first practice session at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Rossi was not informed of the U-turn on the situation until after he stepped out of the car at the end of FP1.

    Although naturally conceding to being "disappointed" with what unfolded, Rossi is convinced his time will soon come.

    "I don't think it was as hard as you would expect because it (the chance) came so quickly and went away in the same way," said Rossi.

    "I wanted to race but at the end of the day there was nothing I could do it about it, so there was no point complaining or anything.

    "That is the way it goes, it is the sport we are involved in, and we will be back very soon.

    "I feel I will get my chance. It is something that is coming. When? I don't know.

    "It might come out of the woodwork, like last weekend, or it might be more of a planned thing. But I do feel very confident I will be in a grand prix race seat for a whole weekend very soon."

    Given F1's problems in trying to crack America over the years, Rossi is confident there has been no negative impact Stateside after what transpired at Spa.

    "I don't think it has affected anything in the States," added Rossi. "If anything it has raised my profile quite a bit, which is nothing but a good thing, and shown America how close I am.

    "It not only gave America and the F1 fan base a bit of confidence in the fact that I can make it, but it gave me the confidence too.

    "Coming to this team and being here for such a short period of time, the fact they showed faith in me when necessary went a long way."

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