Rossi looking forward to FP1 duty for Caterham in Bahrain

Alexander Rossi is set to take up Friday free practice duty for Caterham on the opening day of the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend.

Rossi told ESPN, "I'm very much looking forward to that because it's a chance to drive the car and I know the track pretty well. I did GP2 Asia there so, while it's only 90 minutes, it gives me a chance to make an impression."

The 21 year old American driver will replace Giedo van der Garde in the cockpit of the team's CT03.

"The main focus is to carry out the programme for the team, but let's be real here motor sport is all about lap times isn't it? So I'm going to need to find the balance between carrying out the job for the team and performance."

"At the end of the day everybody is going to look down at the results and see how you do, so while you have to ensure you can get through the run plan and you have to save the tyres, you can't be out for a Sunday drive because that will hurt you in another way," said Rossi.

Meanwhile it has emerged that Van der Garde will sit out four FP1 sessions during the course of the season with Rossi and, the second Caterham reserve, Ma Qing Hua earmarked for duty on those days. (GP247)