Magnussen, Ocon leading Renault seat contenders

The French car manufacturer has made no secret of the fact that it was interested in Bottas, with team principal Fred Vasseur having worked with him when he won the GP3 title in 2011.

But although Williams took up an option it has on Bottas’s services last month, which effectively committed the Finn for next season, Renault continued a push to try to find a way to get its hand on him.

Insiders suggest that Bottas asked Renault for more time before it signed a teammate to Nico Hulkenberg for next year – but following discussions over the United States Grand Prix weekend it appears that all avenues have been exhausted.

It means that Bottas will be confirmed for 2017 when Williams announces that it has signed youngster Lance Stroll.

Renault decisions

With Renault also having failed in a bid to get Carlos Sainz out of Toro Rosso, its options are narrowing – although it is believed to be edging towards a clear choice between Ocon and Magnussen.

Ocon, who is a Mercedes junior driver, has huge potential and impressed Renault when he served as its reserve driver earlier this year.

However, the Frenchman’s future depends on Mercedes, which may elect to plant him at its customer team Force India instead.

That would then clear the way for Magnussen to be retained, with Renault believed to favour experience and the Danish driver having produced some strong performances during a difficult campaign for the outfit.

Renault appears to be in no rush to decide, and will likely wait until Ocon’s situation with Force India has become clear.

An outsider at Renault could be Esteban Gutierrez, whose arrival could open the door for Magnussen to switch to Haas for 2017.

Additional reporting by Roberto Chinchero

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