Renault denies hinting over Magnussen future

A Renault official has played down suggestions the carmaker has dropped a big hint about the identity of Nico Hulkenberg’s 2017 teammate.

A key vacancy at the Enstone team is open for next year, with current drivers Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer under pressure from several candidates.

Some, however, think this week’s launch of a special ’Kevin Magnussen edition’ of the Renault Clio road car in Denmark is a very clear hint that the Danish driver will be kept on board.

The car has been labelled by Renault Denmark, prompting the Danish newspaper BT to ask Renault’s Danish arm if the Clio is in fact a not-so-subtle hint.

"We know as little as you about what will happen with Renault and Kevin Magnussen," said Soren Hyltoft Thomsen, a PR official for Renault Denmark.

"We made a deal with Kevin Magnussen in the spring to make the car, but there is no hidden message in it."