Renault chief Cyril Abiteboul has hinted that Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon are candidates to partner Nico Hulkenberg in the French team next year, however, recent developments up and down the grid could change how this pans out in the future.
Speaking to reporters in Hungary, Abiteboul said, "We have to develop our own strategy and do what is good for us. We will be deciding in the next few days."
How this will turn out only time will tell, meanwhile with Force India in administration Sergio Perez has also emerged as a possible candidate. He was on the Renault radar before they opted for Nico Hulkenberg a couple of years ago.
"We have to develop our own strategy and do what is good for us We will be deciding in the next few days. We have a couple of options. This wasn't the situation a year ago. But I think everyone can see the progression we have made and this makes us an attractive position for drivers."
"There is some speculation linking us to a Force India driver who is a French driver. I won't deny that this is an option, and an attractive option. But Carlos is also an attractive option. Carlos is doing a tremendous job."
Although there are reports that Mercedes chief Toto Wolff would not block Ocon's move to Renault, these have emerged in the British media who are lobbying hard to have Mercedes junior George Russell step up to Force India next year.
Sky quote Wolff saying, "If he has an opportunity somewhere else to be successful as a racing driver and another team or constructor to be successful with Esteban, we wouldn't want to stand in the way."
Although Force India hold an option for Ocon's services for 2019, team chief Otmar Szafnauer suggested that the team would release the young Frenchman, while the current state of affairs with the Silverstone outfit hardly bodes well for any driver's future.
Szafnauer confirmed, "It's fine for [Ocon] to go, but we have to agree to that. I'm sure Toto has persuasive tools, if that's what we all want to do. We work well together.
"We had great discussions about Esteban when he came in and if it's mutually beneficial then, of course, that's what we are going to do. We won't stand in his way. But first and foremost my job is to look after Force India, so I will be pushing to do what's best for us," added Szafnauer.
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