Disappointed Leimer 'deserves' F1 seat

Jan.13 (GMM) The new reigning champion of the F1 support series GP2 will not move up to the pinnacle of motor sport in 2014.

Since the series' inception in 2005, every single champion became - or, in the case of Giorgio Pantano, had already been - a formula one driver.

But that run stopped with the 2012 champion, when Davide Valsecchi carried the GP2 crown to a mere test role with Lotus. The Italian now looks set to bow out of formula one altogether.

Now, the 2013 champion, Swiss Fabio Leimer, is also missing out on F1.

The Swiss newspaper Blick speculates that his financial backing, formerly bolstered by Rainer Gantenbein, has now run dry.

Leimer, 24, admits to being disappointed.

"From a sporting point of view I deserve it," he said.

Veteran Blick correspondent Roger Benoit said Leimer is currently looking into potential moves to the German touring car series DTM, or the world sports car series.