Renault and Force India: two baisquets but many more contenders?

Every Grand Prix weekend, until the end of this season, will be the scene of several races within the race.

Certainly, eyes will be glued to the Rosberg/Hamilton battle for the title. But other equally important considerations and negotiations will take place at the same time.

By signing with Renault, the future former Force India driver set off a chain reaction in the transfer market. It was learned at the Texas race that Daniil Kvyat would remain with Toro Rosso in 2017.

Which narrows the field of possibilities and only increases the nervous tension for the remaining midfield and back of the grid seats.

There is only an empty seat left at Renault.

In this regard, Jolyon Palmer remains on the tightrope. He is in direct competition with his current teammate, Kevin Magnussen, who achieved a podium finish in 2014 during his first race in Australia with McLaren.

Let’s not forget the 2015 GP3 Series champion, Esteban Ocon, supported by Mercedes and Renault, who could potentially secure a place with the diamond brand manufacturer.

The Briton shared his concerns in Autosport, acknowledging that the continuation of his career was in question despite a more consistent second half of the season and his first point scored in Malaysia.

« It would be nicer to be more relaxed. There is always pressure in F1, but knowing your career is on a tightrope, it’s like every second counts. »

This battle to secure the second seat for the next season adds spice to the end of 2016. Notably, one could feel a renewed vigor from the two drivers of the Enstone firm. The Dane, at the end of the race in Austin, exclaimed that he had never had so much fun this season, while Palmer lamented the lack of race instructions, which he claimed kept him stuck behind Magnussen when he could have been fighting higher up in the standings.

Jolyon Palmer isn’t giving up yet; he is determined to show the best of what he’s capable of doing. Will that be enough to capture attention, even from another team?

« I am always ready to push the limits to show the best I am capable of, and hopefully it will be for Renault, but if not, I have to show my best for others. There is a lot at stake. I hope it’s not too late, » he finally concludes to « Autosport ».

Which driver to support Sergio Pérez?

In another race for the coveted seat, the car left vacant by Nico Hülkenberg at Force India is generating much more than mere interest, given the impressive results of the Indian team, the 4th strongest on the grid.

Pascal Wehrlein, a protégé of the Mercedes program, had acknowledged being in talks with Force India for 2017.

Other names could be mentioned, such as Esteban Ocon or the young Mexican driver Alfonso Celis Jr, current development driver for the Indian firm.

But that was without counting on the current Sauber resident, Marcus Ericsson, who is also interested in the vacant position. While he had hinted that he would stay with Sauber in 2017, the vacancy at Force India opened up other prospects for the Swede to explore.

He says he’s ready to consider all possibilities: “I still think it’s very likely that I’ll stay with Sauber, but as I said, I want to be in the best possible team, and Force India seems to be very strong currently. It would be foolish not to consider them because we haven’t signed a contract for next year yet. We need to see what possibilities are available,” the Swede stated to Autosport.

Moreover, if Marcus Ericsson were to leave Sauber, it would also mark the end of financial support from the Swedish driver’s partners.

The confirmations of Hülkenberg and Kvyat have reignited the Formula 1 market. This suggests intense negotiations within the paddock for the remaining three races. The performances of drivers in danger or under the spotlight will be scrutinized even more closely, although undoubtedly, other considerations will tip the balance one way or another.

This end of the season may be more unexpected than anticipated on several levels, not to mention that the Williams team will announce its two drivers after the Mexican round.