Renault's Stoll praises Palmer's 'team spirit'

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Renault Sport racing chairman, Jerome Stoll praised Jolyon Palmer following the extension of the British driver's contract with Renault for 2017.

Palmer admitted feeling 'over the moon' about his contract renewal as it had looked at one point as if his chances of enjoying a second season with the French manufacturer were remote.

His end-of-season form and relative performance compared to team mate Kevin Magnussen, along with the team making its own progress, were instrumental in helping Palmer secure his future in F1, according to Stoll.

"We are delighted to retain Jolyon as our driver for the 2017 season," said the French manager.

"Jolyon has shown his hunger to develop with us as the team grows and we have been impressed with his increasingly strong performances on track as the season has progressed.

"We are confident that the combination of Jolyon and Nico Hülkenberg offers a very promising driving force to meet our goals."

Stoll also insisted on Palmer's positive attitude throughout the season, labeling him a 'team player', while having a driver of the caliber of Hulkenberg on the other side of the Renault garage will only benefit him.

"Jolyon understands the team’s spirit and motivates everyone he works with. The line-up of Jolyon and Nico harnesses the benefits of continuity and fresh blood.

"I am sure that having Nico as a team-mate will help push Jolyon to greater achievements.

"We thank Kevin Magnussen for his efforts in 2016 as he has done a great job for us this year. We wish him all the best for 2017 and beyond.”

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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.