FIGHTING FOR HIS FUTURE
Ahead of the British Grand Prix, we talk to Renault’s Jolyon Palmer about his challenging debut F1 season
WITH Lewis Hamilton battling his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg at the front of the field and Mclaren’s Jenson Button fighting to stay in F1, it’s easy to forget there’s another Brit on the 2016 grid in the shape of Renault’s Jolyon Palmer.
The 25-year-old West Sussex native booked his place in motorsport’s top tier by winning the 2014 GP2 Series title, but became test and reserve driver for the Lotus team just as its owner Gerard Lopez began the process of selling out to Renault.
Delays in finalising the deal left the team on the back foot coming into this season, and when we caught up with Palmer ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix, he was open about how tough it’s been.
“In October, we still didn’t know if the car would have a Renault or Mercedes engine,” he told us. “And it was December before we started paying bills and getting parts made. Things we’re now putting on the car should have been on it at the start of last year, so we’re a long way behind.
“It’s harsh, but I know the potential is good with the team, plus there’s a lot about what I’m doing that the engineers can see that isn’t visible to the rest of the world.”
Although this is hardly an ideal situation for a rookie trying to make his mark on F1, Palmer is determined to make the best of
“Pressure is on for the Englishman to retain his seat with Renault for the 2017 season”
things – and is crystal-clear as to what his primary objective for the year is.
“Do well against Kev,” he says simply, referring to his Danish team-mate Kevin Magnussen, picked up by Renault after being cast aside by Mclaren at the end of 2015.
“He’s highly rated and doing a good job,” Palmer continues. “At Mclaren he was comparable to Button, so showing well against him is the most I can do really.”
But as well as Magnussen, Palmer also has Renault’s rapid young test and reserve driver Esteban Ocon to deal with. Rumours suggest management would like to see a French driver racing for the team sooner rather than later, so the pressure is on for the Englishman to retain his seat.
Some have characterised the 2016 season as a simple ‘shootout’ between Palmer and Magnussen to decide who’ll join Ocon in 2017, but Palmer disagrees. “There’s nothing to say we can’t both be at Renault next year if they’re pleased with the job we’re doing,” he says, “but of course we’re aiming to beat each other. My bosses can see the potential’s there, but I need to put it together better. I’ve got 12 more races to do that.”
Despite the difficulties and pressure, however, Palmer maintains he’s enjoying the achievement of having made it to F1.
“Even in Baku, where we qualified pretty much at the back, it’s still fun,” he says. “At the end of the day, I’m trying to beat Kev and show Renault what I can do. And even if we’re trying to beat the Manors and Saubers, every weekend we go in trying to make Q2, so there are still challenges.”
Palmer is also more optimistic about his chances at Silverstone and the races that follow. “It’s a track I know well and really enjoy,” he says. “It’s definitely one I want to do a good job at and I think the car should be more suited to it. Certainly, the latter part of the year will be a lot stronger as the car improves; we can start fighting with the likes of Mclaren for points.
“We’re only nine races in and the factory is still pushing for 2016 alongside looking at 2017. We’ve got more parts for the test after Silverstone and we’re pushing on this year’s car right up to the summer break.”
Regardless of how the rest of the season pans out, Palmer will have savoured his first British Grand Prix as an F1 driver. “It could end up being my only British Grand Prix – but I’m 100 per cent focused on making sure it’s not,” he says. “Whatever happens happens – I just want to make sure I make the most of this opportunity.”
“Magnussen showed well against Button, so doing well against him is the most I can do really”