Magny-Cours (France): McLaren's Pedro de la Rosa says he is taking a week-by-week approach to his unexpected return to the Formula One starting grid.
The Spaniard told a French Grand Prix news conference on Thursday that he had heard only on Tuesday he would be replacing Juan Pablo Montoya at Magny-Cours after the Colombian announced a surprise move to the US NASCAR series.
With eight races remaining this season, the 35-year-old test driver hoped to stay in the driving seat but recognised that might not be the case.
"All I can say really is that I have only been told that I do the next few races and that's it," he said.
"Obviously I want to do all the championship. "I don't think the decision has been taken...All I have to do really is look at it week by week. Being here in Magny-Cours is a major opportunity for me and let's make sure that I don't make any mistakes.
"Next week is a different week and we go testing and then we go to Hockenheim and we will see."
De la Rosa stood in for the injured Montoya in Bahrain last year, finishing a strong fifth, but McLaren's other test driver Alexander Wurz, now with Williams, was also given a chance.
There have already been suggestions in the Formula One paddock that McLaren, who have yet to say who will be partnering Spanish world champion Fernando Alonso in 2007, could again rotate the drive. British test driver Gary Paffet and compatriot Lewis Hamilton, leader of the GP2 feeder series that finishes before Formula One, are both considered contenders for the prized race seat next year.
De la Rosa said he would focus on enjoying himself and scoring as many points as possible.
"I don't take it as a last chance," added the Spaniard, whose last full season was with now-defunct Jaguar in 2002.
"In Bahrain I took it like it was my last chance and it was not, because here I am.
"I just want to enjoy myself, drive to the limit of the car and myself like I have been doing in testing where I have always been genuinely quick. I want to finish the race, get points and that's it really," he said.
"I'm not setting any goals or aims to this weekend."
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