Bruno Senna appears headed for a return to the reserve driver role at Lotus for 2012.
With the Enstone based team known as Renault this year, the Brazilian began 2011 in the third driver role before graduating to the race cockpit mid-season when Nick Heidfeld was ousted.
Lotus, however, has named Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean for the race cockpits in 2012.
Senna, 28, has been quoted this week as admitting a return to a reserve role is possible for 2012, especially if he is able to drive in Friday practice sessions.
"We have two racers, we will see about a third driver later on," Lotus team principal Eric Boullier is quoted by the French weekly Le Nouvel Observateur.
"This is an opportunity for Bruno if he does not find a seat elsewhere," he added.
"He is someone who is very good on the technical side and so we could consider the role for Fridays as well," said Boullier.
Italiaracing said Senna is an outside contender for a race seat at Williams or HRT, where he began his F1 race career in 2010.