Palmer: « I have a contract for the remaining seven races »
This Thursday at the press conference, the Renault driver was very clear. He will finish the current season, despite rumors of an early replacement by Carlos Sainz. However, his replacement for 2018 seems inevitable...
How long the season is for the Brit! Nothing is going right for Jolyon Palmer, on or off the track. Still with zero points on the board this season (while Nico Hülkenberg has 34!), not a weekend goes by without a suggestion of eviction. Diving into the Singapore night, the situation is even worse!
An eternal return?
While his replacement by Carlos Sainz for 2018 fuels the transfer talks, the 2015 GP2 champion must also protect his position for the end of the season. According to Autosport, the Toro Rosso driver has reportedly been approached to take his seat as early as the next Grand Prix in Malaysia.
But the 2015 GP champion doesn’t care about these considerations! « I’m just focused on the work I have to do! I couldn’t care less about everything being said about me,” he told journalists present in the city-state.
« Since I think 35 races, there have been rumors that I won’t be there for the next one. So there’s nothing new for me! »
The Renault Sport F1 organization chart would nevertheless see this anticipation in a favorable light in view of its rise to the top. Defending his position tooth and nail, Jolyon Palmer also reminded everyone of the basics of his existing contract, which guarantees him participation until the grand finale at the end of November. It’s indeed the driver who calls the shots!
« I know what’s happening: I have a contract for the seven remaining races of the year. I will be there in Malaysia. And I will drive until Abu Dhabi! »
Moreover, in no case does Palmer’s contract include an amicable termination for 2017. To be completely clear with the management, the driver’s father and the driver himself even threatened legal action if the contract were not honored to its end!
In continuation of his defense, the native of Sussex believes that his season could have experienced more festive moments if reliability hadn’t left him on the sidelines. Four mechanical retirements in seventeen races nonetheless!
« Obviously, it was a difficult year. I think there were some opportunities. In Baku for example, eleven cars finished the race. I even believe a Sauber scored points (editor’s note: it was Pascal Wehrlein, tenth at the finish). We had another problem, after five or six laps (ignition). In Silverstone, I couldn’t start the race… Really, it’s not ideal at this level to have reliability issues. I now have seven races to show what I can do best. »
PAL: “I’ll be racing in Malaysia. I’ll be racing until Abu Dhabi” #SingaporeGP 🇸🇬 pic.twitter.com/BE7jkIrOuj
— Formula 1 (@F1) 14 septembre 2017
The farewell tour?
However, is it not already too late to stay with Renault? Key to the McLaren-Renault deal, Carlos Sainz will undoubtedly be released from Toro Rosso to join the brand with the diamond logo.
« I can confirm that we are close to an agreement with Renault », the driver’s manager also stated in the Singapore paddock, according to statements from the site Confidential-Renault.fr
« I read that Carlos could drive for Renault as soon as this season » even adds the agent in question, Carlos Oñoro Sainz.
« This would be new for us. We have not discussed this for now, in any case. »
With 32 career starts, Jolyon Palmer must savor his time until Abu Dhabi. His future in Formula 1 doesn’t look promising, unless there’s a last-minute twist. The class difference with his teammate seems irreparable, despite some progress shown, like at the end of 2016. But this year, his zero points truly penalize his team, 21 points behind Williams for the fifth place. A gap and number of points that would be his happiness today…
