Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsLotus F1

Palmer working on two scenarios at Lotus

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Jolyon Palmer says he has to work on two scenarios to try and ensure he is Romain Grosjean's replacement at Lotus.

Grosjean will join the new Haas F1 Team in 2016, leaving a vacancy at Lotus for next season. However, the team's future is uncertain with a Renault takeover dragging on and the team facing major debts, and Palmer says he has to work on ensuring he secures a seat regardless of the team's owners.

“Romain has confirmed he’s leaving so there’s a space and I’m wanting to be there and I’m pushing hard to be there," Palmer told F1i. "Obviously it’s complicated with Renault and Lotus still and it depends a bit on movement on that side.”

“I'm working a bit on two scenarios really. You’d be brave to just wait and see what happens in most situations really! It’s clear that I don’t want to be a third driver next year, so I’m pushing really hard. I’m here anyway this year because I want to be racing next year, that was the whole plan really from being GP2 champion.

“I’ve learned a lot this year, done a lot of driving even when the Fridays have been dieseled off or rained off! It has been good, I’ve learned a lot and I’m ready to step in so now I just need to make sure I can be the person that steps up and takes the seat.”

Lotus deputy team principal Federico Gastaldi said in the team's preview for the United States Grand Prix that it is has "a pretty good idea" who will replace Grosjean.

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.