Renault and Abiteboul willing to help Palmer move on

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Renault Sport F1 boss Cyril Abiteboul says the French manufacturer is willing to activate its extensive motorsport network to help Jolyon Palmer move on from F1.

Palmer's performance at Renault fell short of expectations since he was recruited in 2016, with a blend of reliability woes and personal mistakes contributing to his early exit from the sport, and his subsequent replacement by Carlos Sainz.

The Briton's prospects of remaining a Grand Prix driver appear very remote, but Abiteboul will lend his support to Palmer's efforts to pursue a career beyond F1.

"We are a manufacturer that’s part of a large group, and we have a footprint that’s quite wide in motorsport, so there are opportunities also to help him for the future," Abiteboul told Motorsport.com.

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"He has my personal and also Renault’s commitment to see how we can help him in the next challenge. I’m pretty sure he’s got some ideas."

Palmer recently noted that Williams' current interest for Paul di Resta and Robert Kubica - two drivers who were previously forced out of the sport, albeit for different reasons - proved that comebacks are always possible.

"I think one thing you can say is never say never in F1," he said.

"Obviously with Kubica coming back, I think that shows - probably a lot of people thought he’d never come back, and he is there.

"And also Paul di Resta who’s not raced a car in F1 apart from Budapest [filling in for Massa] for a long time and he’s in the mix for a drive again. You never know."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.