Giovinazzi feels ready for full-time seat

Antonio Giovinazzi feels he is ready to join the Formula 1 grid permanently next season despite mixed results in the opportunities he has received this year.

The Italian impressed on debut for Sauber in Australia when covering for the injured Pascal Wehrlein, but that was soon forgotten aftr he crashed out twice in as many days in China.

Giovinazzi still believed he could have continued throughout the season, but has been restricted to practice sessions at Haas in the second half of the campaign.

Nevertheless, he now thinks he is "more than ready" to take a full-time slot, possibly at Sauber, next year.

"The year gave me more than I expected," Giovinazzi told La Gazetta dello Sport.

"I do not hide that after a great year in GP2, I felt ready to race a full season in F1, but that's how it is. But now I feel even much more prepared than I did last winter."

Giovinazzi also reflected on his season, including that disastrous weekend in China.

"In Australia I had a great time but China was the worst weekend of my entire career as a driver," he said.

"It happened to me on the most important stage when I had all the media pressure on me. Critics attacked me a lot.

"I understand better that you always have to keep your feet on the ground.

"I do not want to say that it went to my head, but perhaps in China I set goals that were bigger than I could do at that time.

"You have to be aware of your limitations and that everything comes to you in time. But the disappointment has helped me to grow."