Palmer rejects claims Sainz will replace him after Singapore

2017 F1 season

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Jolyon Palmer has rejected claims this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix could be his last race.

The Renault driver has been tipped to lose his seat to Carlos Sainz Jnr this year and some publications have claimed the Toro Rosso driver will take his place at the next round in Malaysia.

However Palmer emphatically denied the claims during the FIA press conference in Singapore.

“I’ve got seven races to do,” he said. “I’ll be in Malaysia, I’l be racing until Abu Dhabi.”

“I have a contract, I’ve got seven more races this year,” Palmer added.

The Renault drivers said he has been subjected to repeated speculation about his future since he arrived in F1 last year.

“There’s been suggestions for I think 35 races that I might not be at the next one or in the next few,” said Palmer. “This is nothing new for me, it’s water off a duck’s back now.”

“It’s been the same at most races this year and nothing changed.”

Palmer has not scored a point so far this year while team mate Nico Hulkenberg has collected 34. His best finish so far this year is a trio of 11th places. Palmer reached Q3 at Spa but suffered a clutch problem and had to take a gearbox change penalty which dropped his out of the top ten on the grid.

Sainz has been linked to a move to Renault as the manufacturer is expected to shift its engine supply from Toro Rosso to McLaren. Red Bull junior driver Pierre Gasly is considered a likely replacement.

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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8 comments on “Palmer rejects claims Sainz will replace him after Singapore”

  1. I feel sorry for him to be honest – he needs to do something special in the last few races if someone else like Williams will look at him for next year. I don’t see it happening but you never know- even just to grab a few points to finish the year off!

    1. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he ends up at Williams.
      However I think Paddy will inject some sense on the driver decisions for next year

    2. @evilhomer: Yes, he’s a bad driver (for f1 standards, I know about his gp2 season) but damn, even when he does something right (spa qualifying) he’s unlucky, hope he gets a point or 2 before the year ends, after which I think he’s out of f1 given the level drivers are at.

  2. Really sounds like from what he’s said that even he knows the writing is on the wall. Whether he’s gone after Singapore or see’s out the rest of the season, he knows his time in F1 is likely up. Just the impression I got at least.

  3. “I have a contract, I’ve got seven more races this year,” Palmer added. “My Dad paid good money for this race seat and nobody is taking it away from me.”

    1. His Dad: “They offered me a good pay out so I took him out”.

  4. This is the first time (and probably the last), that I’ve actually seen palmers helmet…

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