Jolyon Palmer will be competing in his very first Mexican Grand Prix next weekend, and hoping it won't be his last given the uncertainty surrounding the British drivers' future.
Renault have yet to decide which man shall reside on the opposite side of its garage and Nico Hulkenberg next year, with Palmer, Kevin Magnussen and Esteban Ocon among those who are the most frequently cited.
In the interim, Palmer's only resolution is to drive to the best of his ability in Mexico hoping that in the end, it all adds up to a second year with Renault.
The Brit will have part of his work cut out for him however, having only limited experience of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez which he sampled last year as a Lotus reserve driver.
"I drove it in FP1 last year and it was very slippery as the surface was new and it’s a cool track with a really nice feel to it," explained Palmer.
"It’s always fun to go to a new circuit, which was the case last year. It’s got a particularly distinct character with the stadium section near the end of the lap. There are quite a few fast corners and it’s a good layout.
"Last year the event was all about the crowd; there were so many people and they were so enthusiastic.
"On the grid in Mexico was one of the most memorable moments of last season; that and driving through the stadium section – even in FP1."
Mexico's specific high altitude impacts engine and aerodynamic efficiency, but Plamer isn't expecting any major issues with either one.
"We were aware of this before we went there last year, but it didn’t seem to make any difference. I
headed there on Monday after Austin so there’ll be plenty of time to get used to it!"
It will be difficult for Palmer, as indeed for any driver facing uncertainty, to shut out preoccupations linked with his immediate future.
But the 25-year-old will just have to keep his head down and focus on the job at hand, one race at a time between now and the end of the season.
[I want to] Just get my talking done on track. I feel I’m getting better all the time and I’ll be pushing hard at every turn.
"’m happy with the car and the team and I feel in a good place so there’s no reason why I shouldn’t put in strong performances over the next races.
"My focus is certainly on the races. I want to do a mega race in Mexico and get the appreciation and everything else which goes with that."
Scene at the United States Grand Prix
2016 USGP - Quotes of the week
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