Oliver Rowland admits that he sees himself second in line for the 2018 Renault seat after Robert Kubica. The 24-year-old signed for Renault as a development driver earlier this year and currently races in the Formula 2 championship where he's trailing leader Charles Leclerc in second place
With Jolyon Palmer's future looking in doubt, there is a seat available at Renault for 2018. With many drivers interested in the seat, Rowland has tipped himself to be right in contention, with only the return of Robert Kubica stopping him.
The Brit didn't get a test drive in Budapest earlier this week, as Renault chose to split driving duties over the two days with Kubica and Rowland's Formula 2 teammate Nicholas Latifi: "My F2 teammate, Nicholas Latifi, was testing so I got a bit of information back from him," said Rowland.
"We get on and share a lot of information within F2. I spoke to him last night and he said he had a good day. It’s good for me as well as he’s a decent reference for them (Renault) to compare me to him and compare him to Robert. But you never really know with these tests, the teams run a lot of fuel and you never really know what setting their on with the engines so from the outside it’s difficult to gauge exactly what’s going on."
"Robert comes with a lot of support and everybody would like to see him back in Formula One which is why it’s a little bit difficult for me pushing that seat as well when he’s in the frame. As for the other two, Nicholas is my teammate in F2 so there is a direct comparison there. If he was to beat me then he should get a seat in F1 and if it’s the other way round you’d like to think that I would.
"Sirotkin did GP2 last year and finished third but I’d like to think that I’m doing a slightly better job. We were also teammates in 2014 in World Series by Renault and I beat him then. I see myself as not coming with the most backing in the world but second favourite behind Robert from that side of things. I respect him from what he did before and it would be nice to see him there if I wasn’t fighting for the seat!"
Fergal Walsh
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I'm not sure... Lots of talent in F1