The Renault team, which in the middle of the year was comparing Robert Kubica and Sergei Sirotkin, once again convinces that the Russian competitor should get a chance to start in Formula 1.
After the team from Enstone decided to engage Carlos Sainz for the 2018 season, Robert Kubica decided to fight for the place in F1 along with the Williams team. Unexpectedly, Renault's reserve driver Siergiej Sirotkin also joined the fight, currently typed by the media as the favorite to take the chair at Lance Strolla's side in the 2018 season.
A few weeks ago Sergei Sirotkin's skills were praised by Alan Permane from Renault, and now he was joined by Cyril Abiteboul, who claims that the Russian's performance is the basis to entrust him with Formula 1 car.
"Honestly, we've always been impressed with Sergey," said Renault head for motorsport.com. "We were not always happy with his luck on the track, because two or three times during Friday's training, when he was just sitting behind the wheel we had mechanical problems with the car, which were not related to his driving at all."
"However, whenever he had the opportunity to ride, he was able to show that he has the pace and understands the car perfectly."
"I think it's quite amazing considering its moderate experience with Formula 1 cars, but the accuracy of its technical support was very helpful to us."
"In principle, part of the development work this season is also thanks to Sergei - both thanks to the work in the car and our simulator."
"When it comes to speed, loyalty, concentration and work, I really think he deserves to get a chance in Formula One."
"It's hard to judge how strong it will look like against a team partner, but it definitely has to get a chance."
Abiteboul says the 22-year-old would be a good team mate for Lance Stroll, having been impressed with the work he's done for Renault.
“He has some natural skills and natural pace, but in modern Formula 1 those things do not come for free," he continued. "They come also from the effort put in by the team into the driver.
"I think we put a lot in terms of mileage in a current car and previous cars, and I think he is a different driver now to what he was 12 months ago."
