Palmer: Force India would help career

GP2 champion Jolyon Palmer believes Force India is a team that would give him a worthwhile Formula 1 role if he could turn his debut test into a 2015 deal.

Palmer drove for Force India on day one of the post-season F1 test in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

He bounced back from a day beset by engine problems to record the fourth fastest time, just four thousandths of a second slower than the Mercedes of world championship runner-up Nico Rosberg.

Amid dwindling race options on the 2015 grid - and uncertainty over whether the Marussia and Caterham teams will return next season - Palmer hopes his performance may help him land a reserve driver role, if he cannot graduate to a race seat.

He thinks Force India's past record proves it is a team where a 'number three' position is worth having.

"I didn't get a lot of running [but] I was happy with my own performance and I hope they [Force India] were too," Palmer said.

"Force India are a team that give young drivers chances.

"I think if a role was possible here it would be good as they helped out Paul di Resta before he moved up, and Jules Bianchi too, with proper FP1 programmes.

"There are some teams that barely give time in the car, so if I was to do it, it would be with a team that really gives the driver a chance.

"Force India does that. It's an option but we're looking at quite a few things."

Palmer said he was frustrated by problems that restricted his running to just 37 laps.

"It was actually quite a tough day as we had mechanical problems for a lot of it," he added.

"We started out on soft tyres to acclimatise to my first day in F1 and get up to speed, then I had an engine problem.

"When that went back together we did the install and had another problem so it was a bit frustrating.

"But in the end I was happy to get out and did the last hour of running.

"I managed to push on and get it up to speed quickly and get on and attack."