Frenchman has guided the careers of Hamilton, Vettel and Rosberg
Monday 7 March 2016 11:21, UK
Jolyon Palmer believes Renault's new racing director Frederic Vasseur will help both he and Kevin Magnussen develop as drivers.
Vasseur has been somewhat of a guru in guiding the careers of young drivers with his ART Grand Prix team in junior formulae. Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel are just some of the drivers the Frenchman has helped develop into leading F1 competitors.
Vasseur was lured into F1 by the returning Renault who have a young and inexperienced line-up in Palmer in Magnussen, with the former yet to start a GP and the latter with just one season under his belt.
Asked by Sky Sports if the appointment of Vasseur would help him develop as a driver, Palmer replied: "I think so because he understands where we have come from.
"Both of us have known Fred for a while now, from GP2 for me and Kevin has known him for a while as well, so I think it is helpful and Fred knows and understands young drivers.
"He understands running a successful team, he is a racer as well at heart so I feel he is someone who understands us as drivers and hopefully bring the best out of us."
Notable drivers guided by Vasseur at ART
Lewis Hamilton - 2005 F3 Euroseries Champion and 2007 GP2 champion
Nico Rosberg - 2006 GP2 champion
Paul di Resta - 2006 F3 Euroseries champion
Sebastian Vettel - Runner up F3 Euroseries 2006
Nico Hulkenberg - 2008 F3 Euroseries champion and 2009 GP2 champion
Jules Bianchi - 2009 F3 Euroseries champion
Stoffel Vandoorne - 2015 GP2 champion
Valtteri Bottas - 2011 GP3 champion
Romain Grosjean - 2007 F3 Euroseries champion and 2008 GP2 Asia Series Champion
Esteban Gutierrez
