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Magnussen "can't understand" Renault delay on 2017 decision
Kevin Magnussen has expressed his frustration at the ongoing wait to know his fate at Renault next season, saying he "can't understand" why the French outfit has delayed a decision on its 2017 line-up.
Jamie Klein
Edited: Sep 29, 2016, 1:03 PM
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Renault team principal Frederic Vasseur revealed to Motorsport.com earlier this month that it would postpone a decision on next year's drivers, originally slated for September, in order to better evaluate other candidates.
Manor driver Esteban Ocon remains a major contender for one of the seats, while efforts are still ongoing to try and prise Carlos Sainz away from Toro Rosso - with the Spaniard saying the interest in him is an "honour".
Asked if he could understand the delay, Magnussen said: "No, I can’t understand it. I would find it very easy to take a decision.
"Of course it’s frustrating not knowing what you’re doing next year. I want to know as soon as possible."
Magnussen was in a similar situation two years ago, when he faced a long wait to find out if he would be retained as a McLaren driver for 2015 - only to lose out to Jenson Button in the race for the seat alongside Fernando Alonso.
"That’s an experience I don’t want to go through again, for sure," added Magnussen. "But I don’t think I will go through it again. I think there is going to be a decision sooner rather than later."
The Dane also said that he isn't actively discussing his future with team bosses, as he prefers to let his driving "talk for itself."
"I don’t feel like I need to say anything [to the team]," he said. "My conversations are when I’m driving, that’s what I do.
"I try and do the best possible job on track I can, and let that talk for itself. That’s the only thing I feel I can do."
Palmer: No reason for Renault to rush decision
Magnussen's teammate Jolyon Palmer took a more sympathetic view to Renault's delayed decision, saying that the Enstone squad needs to take its time to ensure it has the best possible line-up going forward.
"If I was Renault and I would want to be making the best decision for the future, there's no need really to decide quicker than they have to," said the Briton, who has yet to score a point this season.
"Obviously, if you hang on until next year, January - February, then that's starting to get very late and you can end up hurting drivers' careers.
"But for the moment, we're still in September and there's no need for the team to make a decision right now, I think. They've got six more races to learn more about everything."
Much like Magnussen, Palmer said he wasn't actively trying to persuade Renault that he is worth retaining for a second campaign.
"I just focus on driving, really, there's no point on me banging on Fred's door all the time, trying to sell myself," he said.
"Of course, I want to be, I'm desperate to be there, but I've got to be doing the job, because if I'm banging on his door and I'm not doing the job on the track, then it's a bit of a waste of time."
Additional reporting by Oleg Karpov
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