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A race seat on a Formula One team is a prized possession in the sport ... MAL FAIRCLOUGH/AFP/Getty Images/file
Learning on the job: F1 reserve drivers try to tap into the brains of their team's grand prix racers in case they have to step into their shoes. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
David Coulthard was understudy to Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna before making the step up to a full race seat. Anton Want/ALLSPORT
Coulthard, seen here with Prost, has likened the role to that of a sponge, taking in every facet of information possible to be prepared for the full-time race role. Mike Cooper/ALLSPORT
Germany's Pascal Wehrlein is learning from the best after making the step up to reserve driver behind Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at Mercedes. The 20-year-old travels to all the races in 2015 to learn the ropes. Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images
Wehrlein has already taken to the wheel of the F1 car but the majority of his time will be spent in the simulator. He did 12,000 km in it last season. Race Of Champions
Rosberg still likes to spend hours in the Mercedes simulator -- unlike teammate and reigning world champion Hamilton. Neville Hopwood/Getty Images for IWC
Lotus' Romain Grosjean admitted it was difficult to get close to race drivers when he was a reserve, largely because they felt threatened he was out to take their seat. DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP/Getty Images
Kevin Magnussen (left) has taken a step back from race driver to reserve behind Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button at McLaren in 2015. Steven Tee /McLaren-Honda via Getty Images
It is a similar situation for Esteban Gutierrez, who was released by Sauber but is back in the F1 paddock as Ferrari's reserve driver. Dan Istitene/Getty Images
