Heikki Kovalainen has said that he is 'surprised' to be without a drive for this year's Formula 1 season.
The Finn has spent the last three seasons with Caterham, but is expected to lose his seat there due to funding.
The 31-year-old told Autosport.com: "Of course we're working flat out to see if we can do something about it, but the problem is the results that I've had over these last two or three years have not been enough to get in a top car, and then the average teams are in a situation now where they have to take pay drivers, and that rules out the second half of the grid.
"It's a tricky situation that I'm in now, although people say you've driven well, you've done a good job, the fact is that 15th or 16th or 17th on paper that is not as good as someone who's been sixth or seventh or eighth.
"It was slightly surprising, I thought after last season and the last couple of years I thought I'd be in a better position on the market."
Kovalainen has previously said that he will not chase sponsorship to secure a seat in Formula 1.
Prior to joining Caterham, Kovalainen drove for McLaren and Renault.
Sian Cowper
