GP2 champion Davide Valsecchi believes he deserves the chance to return Italy to the Formula 1 grid following his success this season.

The 25-year-old sealed the crown in the F1-feeder series in Singapore last weekend, beating season-long rival Luiz Razia to the title.

This year's Australian Grand Prix was the first race since the 1973 German GP not to feature an Italian on the entry list, following Jarno Trulli's departure from Caterham on the eve of the season to make way for Vitaly Petrov.

Only one GP2 champion has failed to secure a drive in Formula 1 the following season, and that was Valsecchi's...