Are Pastor Maldonado and Jolyon Palmer in Renault's long term Formula 1 plans?

Renault’s return to Formula 1 as a works outfit has increased the attractiveness of team Enstone to drivers hoping to land a manufacturer's seat and raises questions about its long-term race line up.

Last week Renault finally confirmed that it would buy back the Lotus squad that it previously owned between 2002 and 2010 and it is expected to honour the contracts signed by Pastor Maldonado and Jolyon Palmer for the 2016 season.

Maldonado was re-signed for a third successive year by the Enstone-based team shortly after the Singapore Grand Prix, while Palmer’s deal was confirmed at the US Grand Prix, as Lotus needed to secure the financial backing to see out 2015.

With those two drivers already signed for next season, 2017 looks likely to become a key year for the driver market, as Renault’s return to F1 brings a further opportunity for racers to find those highly-prized works seats.

Former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore has suggested that Renault needs to bring in new engineers and drivers if it wants to be successful, although he ruled out a third Enstone stint for Fernando Alonso, whom he represents.

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Briatore said: “Three years is a lot of time. F1 is on the edge, and it needs a strong Renault before the end of three years.

“It's also true that Renault must rebuild everything, including the technical team. Enstone lost some great engineers, and Viry Chatillon also. It will be not easy.

“If you want to win, you must change the drivers as well. Fernando in Renault for a third time? No, not at this moment. He's got a contract with Honda."

In a wide-ranging briefing at the recent Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, McLaren boss Ron Dennis, reiterated his belief that Alonso would finish his career with the Woking outfit, despite then suggesting he could take a sabbatical in 2016.

Dennis said: “[Alonso] will definitely finish his career at McLaren. I have an open mind to anything – and some of the ideas have involved those sorts of considerations, sabbatical years, etc.”

Alonso himself confirmed that he would be driving for McLaren next year, but did not rule out another switch once his contract with the team expires, although that would not be until the end of the 2017 season.

He said: "Let's see what happens in one-and-a-half years and what the situation is, what are the targets we have met and we hadn't met and what the motivations are to keep going on in Formula 1."

Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez could also be considered contenders for a move to Renault in the future. Although Hulkenberg signed a two-year deal to remain at Force India back in the summer, the German driver has long been linked with seat at a works outfit and a switch to Renault could be a lifeline for those ambitions.

Perez was known to have held talks with Lotus about making a move to the Enstone squad for next year, before he also opted to re-sign with Force India. However, the Mexican, who had a strong finish to 2015 that included a memorable third place at the Russian Grand Prix, only signed a one-year deal, which raises the possibility of a drive at Renault in 2017.

Two drivers not currently on the F1 grid could also be on Renault’s radar after 2016: Jean-Eric Vergne and Kevin Magnussen. Vergne has been racing in the all-electric championship, Formula E; since he lost his drive at Toro Rosso a year ago and the Frenchman possess speed as well as home appeal for Renault.

McLaren recently dropped Magnussen, who drove for the team in 2014 before being sidelined by Alonso’s arrival at Woking. Since then he has tested Porsche’s World Endurance Championship LMP1 car and a Mercedes DTM machine as he evaluates is career options. At 23, the Dane has time on his side and was heavily linked with Renault earlier this season.

One driver who probably won’t be in contention for a Renault seat in the coming years is the man who has just left Enstone: Romain Grosjean. The Frenchman opted not to re-sign with Lotus and headed to Haas F1 despite the imminent prospect of Renault’s F1 return.

Speaking after he was announced as a Haas driver, Grosjean, who hopes his deal with the new team will lead to a Ferrari drive in 2017, explained that he could not afford to wait for Renault to become competitive.

He said: “At Renault they need at least three years to get back to the top and I’m almost 30. Let’s say I have ahead of me a maximum of five or six seasons left in F1. I can’t wait any longer and this option could open other opportunities for me.”

But Renault could yet stick with Maldonado and Palmer, who was the squad's reserve driver this year and is yet to make his race debut.

2017 will be the second year of its return to F1. That season will also be the first year of the new regulations that could shake-up the sport's competitive order and the continuity provided by Maldonado and Palmer could well be required at Enstone.

Who do you think should drive for Renault in the future? How will Maldonado and Palmer get on in 2016? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

Renault's return to F1 is one of the topics discussed in the JA on F1 Season Review published 10th December at £5-99. The 52 page Souvenir Collectible features JA's Top 5 drivers of the year, analysis of Ferrari's revival and comparison of Lewis Hamilton's stats with the other three time world champions.

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JA on F1 2015 Season Review