“I'm a little bit disappointed, but the difference between the cars is bigger this year. It is tougher this year for sure, but we had a fourth place at the Nürburgring and finished fifth at the Norisring as well before we were disqualified, so we've had some good results and finished close to the podium. We haven't been close enough to win a race yet, but there are a few races left.”

Whilst acknowledging that his hopes of securing that desired rostrum in the final three meetings of the campaign are 'slim, probably, but we'll do our best', Paffett also revealed that he hadn't yet given up on his Formula 1 dream, even if he admitted that his chances of breaking into the top flight are receding with every year that passes.

“It's very difficult to say,” the former McLaren/Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year stressed. “F1 is just a case of waiting for an opportunity.

“As of yet that hasn't arisen, but if I keep myself in there and keep myself testing for McLaren, you never know. We've just got to wait to see what happens. At the moment I don't see anything happening, but you never know.”

by Russell Atkins

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