Renault Happy With Sainz and Hulkenberg But Eyeing Big Fish For 2019 Season

The Renault F1 team have officially announced that they are signing Carlos Sainz Jr from Toro Rosso in 2018. The Spaniard will partner Nico Hulkenberg while Jolyon Palmer will see out the rest of the 2017 season. However Sainz is only being loaned to the French marquee and he is still Red Bull family. When 2018 ends, there are a number of drivers whose contracts expire. But one driver, Sebastian Vettel is untouchable due to a multi-year contract.

Renault team advisor Alain Prost said “The driver market is important and we are in position for the end of 2018 when it is a little bit open for discussion. At the end of 2018 there are a lot of drivers without contracts. We want to be better as a team, next year we will prove we are better than we are now and we want to be in the key market.”

The French manufacturer had previously expressed interest in signing Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo but Red Bull tightened their grip on him. Alain continued “We have Carlos next year but he is remaining in the Red Bull family. But if he performs well and wants to stay we will find a solution,”

Renault are currently 7th in the championship with the lion’s share of the points coming from Hulkenberg. Palmer had only just opened his account last week in Singapore. With a strong driver like Sainz also in the squad, it could increase their prospects in the championship.