The 23-year-old Italian, runner-up in GP2 last season, joined the Ferrari junior scheme this season and acts as third driver for the Scuderia.

He made his first two grand prix starts with Sauber at the start of the year, replacing an injured Pascal Wehrlein in Melbourne and Shanghai, finishing 12th in the former event.

Giovinazzi made his first outing during a race weekend since the Chinese GP at Silverstone earlier this month, the first of seven FP1 appearances he has scheduled with the Ferrari-aligned Haas squad.

The American team could provide an opportunity for him to step up to a race seat next season, while Sauber would be another option if it ultimately elects to stick with Ferrari power units for 2018.

"The target of course is to be there [in a race drive] next year," said Giovinazzi. "But for now I focus on what I'm doing now, these seven FP1s.

"To get in F1 is really hard, there are only 20 seats for the whole world, so it's not like football. This is just my first season in Ferrari, they are really good and I trust them. They know what they can do for me.

"Now it's time to focus on what they gave me for this year, seven FP1s, and then we'll see what happens next year. Everything can happen. I hope I find a seat next year."

Giovinazzi added that he didn't expect a decision on his future to be made for a couple of months yet.

"I think it's too early to know, still July," he said. "To be honest, I don't want to focus too much on what I'm doing next year, maybe in September we will see what we do next year."

Runaway F2 points leader Charles Leclerc has also emerged as a contender for a graduation to F1 with a Ferrari-engined team, but Motorsport.com understands Giovinazzi will be given priority for any vacancies that arise over the Monegasque.

Getting confidence back

Giovinazzi's second F1 race outing in China ended with a crash on the fourth lap in damp conditions, which followed a similar incident in qualifying.

The 23-year-old highlighted the importance of getting more miles under his belt in order to regain the confidence he lost during his troubled Shanghai weekend.

"I think I learnt from what I did in China," Giovinazzi said. "And to learn better is to get back in the car, do laps, and take back the confidence.

"The last time you were in the car you crashed, and then you're not in the car anymore it's really hard. So to come back and take confidence back is really important.

"I'm really happy with my performance, but it was not my target to be honest, to be really fast, [it was] to learn the car. I can't wait to jump in the car again."