Palmer confident for Renault's 2017 competitiveness

Renault can have a much stronger season in 2017 according to driver Jolyon Palmer. Renault endured a tough return to F1 last year playing catch up due to a lack of funds by previous owners Genii Capital.

The French manufacturer picked up eight points from 21 races in 2016 but with the new regulation changes being introduced this year, the team has a chance to leap up the grid.

However, they were hit with problems at the start of 2017 when team principal Fredric Vasseur announced that he was leaving the team after a management disagreement. Palmer will compete in his second season of F1 this year, partnered by Nico Hulkenberg who packed his bags at Force India at the end of 2016.

"Fred left, which was a shame, but we've still got Cyril [Abiteboul], Jerome Stroll as well, so these guys have run Formula 1 teams and been very senior in Renault," said Palmer. "So we're still in very good hands and in a way things are maybe a little bit simpler now.

"The feeling in the team is this is a year where we can actually do something. Last year we had our hands tied a little bit from the problems with Lotus, this year it's a proper Renault stamp on everything.

"We've still got some great people in the team, people who have won races and even won championships with Renault before, so everyone is super excited to get going and see if we can get back towards that."

Renault have a much larger budget than the teams that finished around them in 2016 meaning that they have more of a chance to make gains on their rivals.

"I'm with a manufacturer team, a team that I believe is going places, and even if I didn't show last year I'm sure that the results will come," he added. "I'm in a much better position stood here now and I'm looking forward to 2017."

Fergal Walsh