Rowland: I'm outperforming Sirotkin, Ocon for Renault F1 seat
Renault junior Oliver Rowland is confident he has performed better than the French marque's other affiliated F1 hopefuls in 2016 so far.
Rowland, 23, is contesting his first full-time campaign in GP2, after having won the Formula Renault 3.5 title last year.
While he's yet to win a GP2 race, the MP Motorsport driver had led the championship after Silverstone - and now sits fourth in the standings, 13 and 62 points respectively ahead of Renault F1 test drivers Sergey Sirotkin (ART Grand Prix) and Nicholas Latifi (DAMS).
Speaking to Motorsport.com about his competition within Renault's junior ranks, Rowland said: "There's no real competition for me in the Academy, at the moment, 'cause the ones in the academy are in GP3. As for the others, there's competition, but I'm being them both at the moment, in probably a slightly less preferred car.
"I mean, you've got '14 [DAMS] and '15 [ART] championship-winning cars the other two are in, and I'm in a car that's probably never scored that many points.
"Listen, to get into Formula 1, you have to do something special - and that's what I'm trying to do, and that's what I keep trying to do."
Asked about the rumours tying Renault reserve Esteban Ocon to Jolyon Palmer's seat for 2017, Rowland said: "Yeah, I hear this, I also hear many other people. I keep doing my job and let's see what happens.
"It seems like he's struggling a bit in DTM, hasn't really had any experience in World Series or GP2. I beat him when I was in two-litre [Eurocup Formula Renault in 2012, 2013], so I could beat him now if he comes in the same team, the same car.
"I'm quite happy with my situation - it will be difficult for sure, even if I win GP2, to get a seat - but I won't stop pushing until I do."
Interview by Benjamin Vinel
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Top Comments
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
The harsh realities of being an F1 outcast
Sirotkin joins GT World Challenge Europe enduros with SMP
Sirotkin to stay as Renault F1 reserve in 2020
How can Sirotkin silence the doubters?
What could have been: When Villeneuve’s shock return thwarted an F1 rookie
Ricciardo: Time running out to sort Abiteboul's tattoo
Why Renault's survivor wasn't part of Alpine's plans
Hendrick Motorsports will not appeal Bowman DQ
Hailie Deegan shifting to Indy NXT for 2025 with HMD Motorsports
How F1’s most famous engine unlocked the potential of Brabham's forgotten gem
How a faulty steering wheel created a tense IMSA title showdown
How F1’s most famous engine unlocked the potential of Brabham's forgotten gem
The detail focus that will make Audi’s Red Bull hire a hit team boss
The Russell traits that will ease his adaption to becoming Mercedes team leader
The multi-faceted improvements that have allowed McLaren to challenge Red Bull
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
