Todt protégé Collet hoping for more F1 mileage in 2020

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Brazilian hopeful Caio Collet - a protégé of driver manager Nicolas Todt and a member of Renault's Sport Academy - hopes to put more F1 mileage under his belt in 2020.

Collet, 17, won the French Formula 4 championship last year and placed fifth in this season's Formula Renault Eurocup, achieving five podium finishes as the series best rookie.

Collet will be aiming for the overall crown when he returns to the Renault Eurocup championship with the R-ace GP outfit in 2020.

"We ended up as rookie champion and also set a new record in the championship with 19 points finishes in a row," Collet said.

"We were consistent during the season, always fighting for podiums but we weren’t able to fight for wins for many of the races, and that was quite disappointing.

"Apart from that, my first year in the Renault family has been really good."

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His Renault affiliation, and perhaps also his manager's connections, allowed the young Brazilian to get his first taste of F1 when he enjoyed a private track day with the French manufacturer.

"We will keep working and pushing to improve in the areas that we need to and make sure we can fight for the championship next season.

Collet also conducted demo runs with Renault ahead of last month's Brazilian Grand Prix.

"We’ve completed a few hard training camps and I also had the opportunity to drive an F1 car for the first time in my hometown, São Paulo," he added.

"I hope that I will continue to drive a Formula 1 racer in the future and I will continue to do my best to fulfill this wish."

Collet will warm for his 2020 season on the continent by taking part this winter in the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand, a championship that uses the same chassis and tyres as the Eurocup series.

"Winter tests in Europe have been good and I cannot wait to work," said Collet.

"The 2020 TRS grid looks really strong and I’m ready for the challenge, which will be strong preparation for me for my campaign in Formula Renault Eurocup in 2020.

"I would like to thank the Renault Sport Academy for their blessing to race in this series and All Road Management and my sponsors for their continuous support.

"I will give my best on track to get strong results and fight for the title."

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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.