Di Grassi to Choose Between Renault and Virgin

Brazilian driver Lucas di Grassi has extended his options for securing a race seat in the upcoming season of Formula One to two teams, after previously conforming that he's eyeing a second drive for Manor/Virgin racing. While continuing to name Virgin his best chance of making the 2010 roster, Di Grassi is also hopeful of a Renault seat in 2010.

The GP2 racer has completed his second season as test/reserve driver for the Enstone based team in 2009 and was recently included in the team's rookie drivers lineup for the Jerez testing session. With the French constructor still to name its second driver for the upcoming campaign, Di Grassi admitted he first needs to wait for Renault's decision before making other plans.

“I am waiting for Renault before I know which team I will race for,” said Di Grassi, according to by the Globo website. However, he made it very clear that unless Renault gives him a definitive answer soon, he will choose the Manor way for 2010.

“The priority if they continue is Renault, but if not for sure I prefer Manor. I think Manor, or now Virgin, is the best of the new teams. But most important is to find an available seat. If this is not with Renault or Virgin then (it will be) somewhere else. I'm speaking with several teams,” added the Brazilian driver.

Recent reports coming from the UK suggested that Virgin team boss John Booth would prefer Di Grassi over other candidates for the job, as the GP2 racer used to drive for his team in the past. On the other hand, Di Grassi's chances of landing a seat with Renault are likely to be influenced by a potential sellout of the Enstone operations by the French constructor.

According to recent reports, there are no less than 4 bidders lined up to purchase Renault's F1 operations, the most important being Prodrive and Gerard Lopez group.