Renault-backed Formula 2 racer Oliver Rowland feels he is “second favourite” to drive alongside Nico Hülkenberg at the team in 2018, as he strives to step up to Formula 1.
Rowland claimed the Formula Renault 3.5 title in 2015 and holds second place in the Formula 2 standings, his second full campaign in the division, behind Ferrari protégé Charles Leclerc.
Renault’s second seat for 2018 is up for grabs, with Jolyon Palmer thought unlikely to stay for a third year, having struggled in the sport this season.
Renault has Rowland, F2 DAMS team-mate Nicholas Latifi and GP2 race winner Sergey Sirotkin on its books, while Robert Kubica has been exploring the possibility of a comeback, having tested in Hungary this week.
Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz Jr. is also understood to be on Renault’s radar, having also been scouted last year, though the manufacturer would need to pay Red Bull a hefty sum to acquire the Spaniard’s services.
Rowland, though, feels he is second favourite for the 2018 drive.
“Robert comes with a lot of support and everybody would like to see him back in Formula 1 which is why it’s a little bit difficult for me pushing that seat as well when he’s in the frame,” Rowland told Channel 4.
“As for the other two, Nicholas is my teammate in F2 so there is a direct comparison there. If he was to beat me then he should get a seat in F1 and if it’s the other way round you’d like to think that I would.
“Sirotkin did GP2 last year and finished third but I’d like to think that I’m doing a slightly better job. We were also teammates in 2014 in World Series by Renault and I beat him then.
“I see myself as not coming with the most backing in the world but second favourite behind Robert from that side of things.
“I respect him from what he did before and it would be nice to see him there if I wasn’t fighting for the seat!”
Rowland nonetheless admitted that a relative lack of financial backing compared to some rivals remains a hindrance.
“I’ve got to where I am so far through the support of the Racing Steps Foundation and this year through the support of DAMS and Renault,” he said.
“I’ve got this far without family backing or big backing. I don’t come with that.
“We’ll push to get some form of sponsorship to help us get over the line but as of this moment we don’t have that. It’s down to me to get there on merit which is still entirely possible.”
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