Jolyon Palmer: Renault don't appreciate its drivers

Jolyon Palmer said Friday he's not sure if the French manufacturer completely respect and appreciate the efforts he and teammate Kevin Magnussen have produced on track, all with what he referred to as a "difficult" car this season.

Nico Hulkenberg is scheduled to depart from Force India at the end of the current campaign, having signed a new contract with the Enstone-based outfit, leaving Palmer and Magnussen to duke it out with each other with the one remaining driver seat. The duo have trended upward in the last three races, Magnussen scored himself a point in the Singapore Grand Prix, Palmer scored his first in Malaysia. The two finished 12th and 14th respectively in the Japanese Grand Prix.

However, Palmer does not believe Renault are giving him and his teammate enough credit for their efforts this season. This is only further amplified when you consider one of them is guaranteed to lose their seat with the team at the conclusion of the current campaign, he said.

"Do I think they appreciate everything we've done? I'm not sure," he said. "Kevin has done some great races as well and he's proven in 2014 [with McLaren] what he can do in a good car.

"He finished second in his first race, he out-qualified Jenson [Button] over the course of the year. Now two years on we're both struggling because the car is not really there.

"Neither of us probably have not got the credit we deserve in a difficult car. And that's spurred on by the fact that one of us will be replaced."

Renault driver Jolyon Palmer questions with the team respect and appreciate the efforts of himself and teammate Kevin Magnussen.

Palmer went on to say the Hulkenberg announcement was "not a big shock." Entering Sazuka, he "knew something was going to happen," he said. Palmer said his intentions are to stay at Renault, however, added that he has begun to shop other offers with the fact the team have only one seat to offer.

"Nothing changes from my point of view," he said. "One seat, two drivers in the team that want to stay, but I'm just going to keep showing what I can do.

"The Force India seat has been closed until last week, so that's now a good option because the car is pretty quick, but the main focus is doing a good job here. If an opportunity comes up elsewhere then it's up to me to decide if it worth waiting here or going somewhere else.

"I'd rather find out sooner rather than later."