Jolyon Palmer is targeting a race seat alongside Lance Stroll at Williams for 2018, his father Johnathon Palmer has revealed, as the Briton scored his best finish in Formula 1 in Singapore.
Over the weekend it was announced the former GP2 champion would not be staying with Renault for next season, as current Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz will partner Nico Hulkenberg on loan from Red Bull.
It then emerged Palmer himself only found out after reading an article on Autosport before confirming with his team. It’s uncertain if another rumour suggesting he could be out for Malaysia is true but his father’s comments claim he will be staying.
“A few good races and Williams might take notice,” he said of the seat that is available for next year, with Felipe Massa’s future uncertain. “Williams will want to take their best option and he has the chance to show he is that over the next few races.”
Robert Kubica and Fernando Alonso have also both been linked but Jolyon did help his chances by capitalising on a chaotic race in Singapore to score his first points of the year in sixth place.
“I’m so happy, it’s been a long time coming but today everything fell into place,” he said afterwards. “It was a tricky race with the drama at the start and the heavy rain but the circumstances put us in a good place to score some points.
“We had a good strategy, good pit stops and the car was good in the wet conditions. The next race should be even better!”
On what it meant for his chances of a 2018 seat, he added: “I hope I can build on this confidence. Of course, I want to stay in Formula 1, and there are other options. Whatever happens, happens.”
