Giedo van der Grade says focus is on next year for Caterham

Giedo van der Garde of the Netherlands and Caterham talks at the drivers press conference during previews to the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 6, 2013 in Montreal, Canada.

Dutch driver Giedo van der Garde does not expect Caterham to make any more improvements on the track for the remaining part of the season, stating the team has instead switched their focus to 2014.

Caterham’s performance so far in 2013 has been poor, with the team ending up as the backmarker. The team, though, did have a decent last couple of races thanks to major upgrades at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Currently, they are ahead of Marussia in the standings but van der Garde admits that they stand no chance of closing in on the midfield, as the team is focusing now on 2014 and the major technical upgrades that will be introduced then.

“We’re definitely not going to bring any updates any more because the focus is just for next year,” the Dutchman told ESPN, according to Planet F1.

“I think the gap to the next cars is just a bit too big. At some tracks we will probably be closer but it’s going to be very tough to close that in this year and next year I think the opportunity is much bigger to gain time.

“So I think it will still be a fight with my team-mate, maybe at some places Marussia can be closer and maybe we can be closer to the Williams or whoever it is in front.

“We’ll see; I think if we keep on progressing like this in the next few races I think we’re going to do a good job towards the end of the year.”