Renault has rubbished media speculation linking Carlos Sainz Jr. with a mid-season switch to replace Jolyon Palmer at the Enstone-based outfit.
Reports surfaced in French media publications claiming Sainz Jr. would step in for Palmer at the Hungarian Grand Prix, with the Spaniard's Toro Rosso seat consequently taken by Red Bull junior and reigning GP2 champion Pierre Gasly.
However Renault team boss Cyril Abiteboul moved to dispel such rumours, telling Palmer directly on the Sunday morning of the British Grand Prix that his seat is safe, despite the Britain's recent struggles.
"I have completely dismissed speculation of him being replaced in Budapest," Abiteboul told Autosport.
"It's not good [such rumours], particularly on Sunday morning [before a race].
"When I found out, I made it clear to everyone that there was absolutely nothing true in that, and I told that to Jo directly.
"I wanted to clear that off his mind before the start."
Palmer has yet to score a single point this season while team-mate Nico Hulkenberg has 26 to his name, but much of Palmer's recent struggles have been down to poor reliability – he retired on the formation lap of his home race at the weekend with a hydraulic problem.
