Jolyon Palmer has remained bullish in front of the assembled press in Singapore amid spiralling rumours that this might be his final race for the Renault team.
The Enstone-based squad is widely expected to draft in Carlos Sainz Jnr for the Malaysian Grand Prix in two weeks time following an agreement to release Toro Rosso from its Renault contract.
However, the 26 year-old assuredly told reporters: “I don’t care too much to talk about it no. I know what is happening and I know there will be an announcement at some point in the future, not to long, but for me I am excited about the future. I haven’t thought about it too much but I am excited for what is to come.”
On the topic of the rumoured Malaysian switch, Palmer retorted: “I have a contract with seven more races this year. There has been suggestions for about 35 races that I might not be in the next few so this is nothing new for me, it is water off a duck’s back, it is the same to most races this year so nothing has changed.”
The Englishman emphatically added: “I’ve got seven races to do so I will be in Malaysia and racing until Abu Dhabi, like I said before.”
Palmer’s failure to score points in 2017, in spite of the headway in car pace versus last year, has seen his replacement widely prophesied, and has become a cornerstone in the 2018 driver market.
Robert Kubica’s heroic return to the cockpit in the Hungarian test led many to link the Pole with Palmer’s seat – of course, should Sainz make his expected Renault debut in Malaysia, it would leave Kubica looking elsewhere for a possible racing return in 2018.
