Pedro de la Rosa says he would rather race at the back of the grid in 2011 than settle for a year as a test driver.
The Spaniard, who spent seven years testing for McLaren with the occasional race filling in for the team's regular drivers, returned to the F1 grid this season with the Sauber team.
But, having scored just six points in 14 grands prix, the 39-year-old was dropped in favour of Nick Heidfeld ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix.
De la Rosa, though, has not given up on his dream of racing in F1 next season, although says if he doesn't get a race-seat, he will walk away.
"I hope to have a place in Formula One next year," he told Formule1.nl.
"If my career in Formula 1 is over I regret that, but it's not the end of the world. One thing is certain: I will not do another season of testing.
"Even if I only get a place in a rearguard team, I would rather do that than be a test driver. Even racing in a bad car is better than testing."
He added: "In the beginning of your car you settle for any car you can get. Then you become selective and, at the end of your career, you are happy with any offer.
"For me racing is simply the best there is."
