"I want to be in Renault and I know that if I am we'll have a more competitive car," says Brit; Who are the contenders at French team?
Monday 10 October 2016 10:52, UK
Jolyon Palmer has promised Renault a more "complete" driver if the French outfit choose to retain him for a second season.
The Enstone team have struggled in their first year back in Formula 1 but have aspirations of adding to their two constructors' titles in the near future. As such, both Palmer and team-mate Kevin Magnussen are vulnerable with the manufacturer looking for an experienced, "leading" driver in 2017.
But with a driver line-up announcement not forthcoming as of yet, Palmer still hopes he will be given a chance to build on his rookie season in the sport.
"The main thing for me is to be judged compared to Kevin because he's in the same car," the Brit, sitting down with Sky F1's Johnny Herbert prior to the Malaysia GP, said. "Early on I'd say he had the upper hand, it's fair to say, but after the first third of the season we've been very, very close.
"I want to be with Renault [in 2017] and I know that if I am we'll have a more competitive car. I've learned a lot this year, it's been tough. But I think I'm driving not too bad overall, maybe with a few too many mistakes, but I'm a rookie and I think that's to be expected over the course of a 21-race year.
"Next year, if I come back, no doubt I will be more complete because I will have learned from the mistakes that I've made."
The 2014 GP2 champion seems to be timing an upturn in form at the right time at Renault, securing his first points in F1 in Malaysia with an impressive 10th-place finish.
"Jo is improving, step by step. he is doing a good job," said Renault chief Frederic Vasseur.
Why the delay at Renault?
When Vasseur confirmed that Renault were chasing a driver capable of leading a team, he was confident that the options available to him in the driver market meant an early September announcement was probable.
Sergio Perez seemed the most likely candidate, but the Mexican has now been officially confirmed as a Force India driver for next season. Still, Renault are 'desperately seeking top drivers' for 2017, according to Auto Motor und Sport, and intend to drop Magnussen and Palmer.
The German publication claims that Valtteri Bottas, Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz remain top of the team's wish-list despite Hulkenberg and Sainz being under contract at Force India and Toro Rosso respectively, while Bottas is expected to stay on at Williams alongside Lance Stroll.
However, Auto Motor und Sport speculate that with a bumper three-year deal on offer, it's not yet certain that Renault will be rejected.
What's unclear is just what Renault will do if Sainz, Hulkenberg and Bottas all join Perez in saying no…
