JULY 14, 2016

Candidates queue up for Palmer's seat

Jolyon Palmer may face a struggle to hang onto his Renault seat beyond 2016.

That's because the potential suitors are queuing at the door, including Stoffel Vandoorne and Esteban Ocon.

Belgian Vandoorne is actually under contract to McLaren but the British team has not decided whether or not to hang onto Jenson Button for 2017.

"I would love to drive for McLaren, but if this is not possible, I think there are other options," he is quoted by L'Equipe as having said at the Silverstone test this week.

Another potential candidate is French teenager Ocon, who was testing for Mercedes at Silverstone.

The youngster is already on loan to Renault, where boss Frederic Vasseur has admitted he is in the running.

"The bosses at Renault will decide what they want to do," he said this week.

When asked about the risk he might be unseated by one of Renault's options, Briton Palmer said: "Honestly, I don't worry about it.

"I'm only focused on what I have to do.

"I want to improve the car, because if I succeed, the chances increase that I can show more of what I am capable of. The other guys don't interest me," Palmer insisted.

(GMM)