F1 hopeful Esteban Ocon might be forgiven for feeling disappointed about the latest signing at Lotus.
The 18-year-old Frenchman beat the likes of Toro Rosso rookie Max Verstappen to the highly-respected FIA European F3 title last year.
At the same time, his stock was rising at Lotus, where he is under contract to the team-linked Gravity management arm.
He made his Friday practice debut at the Abu Dhabi finale, being only narrowly outpaced by Pastor Maldonado and looking set to become the Enstone team’s official reserve driver for 2015.
But at the eleventh hour, that coveted role in fact went to the new GP2 champion, Jolyon Palmer.
After Palmer’s signing, Ocon said on Twitter: "Doesn’t matter when, my time will come.
"Whatever I will do this year I can promise I will give 200pc dedication to win."