Jolyon Palmer Interview: The GP2 Champ Discusses His Hopes for a Formula 1 Drive

On October 11, Jolyon Palmer won the GP2 feature race at the Sochi Autodrom, clinching the 2014 GP2 title. Palmer is the first British driver to win the series since current Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton did it in 2006.

After clinching the title with one race weekend to spare, Palmer told the official GP2 Series website: "The first priority was to win GP2 and I was always confident that if I did win GP2 I was going to be in Formula One. Now that’s done and I’m confident I’ll be in Formula One."

In the last month, though, Marussia and Caterham have gone into administration and Sauber announced their drivers for next year. There are not many race seats left for next season, particularly with teams at the lower end of the grid—the usual starting place for F1 rookies.

Incidentally, Palmer beat Felipe Nasr, one of Sauber's new drivers, to the GP2 title this year. And in 2013, he finished two points behind Marcus Ericsson, the Swiss team's other new driver.

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Palmer is no stranger to the soap opera that is F1, though. His father is Jonathan Palmer, who started 83 grands prix from 1983 to 1989 and is now chief executive of MotorSport Vision, owners of Brands Hatch, Snetterton and other British circuits.

This is the 10th season of GP2, the (supposed) last rung on the motorsport ladder before F1. The first seven champions (and the first six runners-up) all raced in F1, including Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. The last two champs, though—Davide Valsecchi and Fabio Leimer—have not been able to break into the highest level of racing.

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Palmer is hoping to end that streak, but it will not be easy. Teams are increasingly looking outside GP2 for new drivers, with this season a perfect example. There are three rookies on the grid, but only Ericsson raced in GP2. Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat came from GP3 and Formula Three and Kevin Magnussen raced in Formula Renault 3.5 last year.

For 2015, there are two rookies confirmed so far. Nasr was runner-up in GP2 this year and Max Verstappen was third in F3.

I was hoping to sit down with Palmer to discuss his future at the U.S. Grand Prix two weeks ago, but it did not work out, so he agreed to answer my questions by email instead. Here is the 23-year-old Horsham native, in his own words.

Bleacher Report: A few weeks ago, you said you were confident you would be able to make the jump to F1 next season. With the potential demise of Caterham and Marussia and other teams already announcing their drivers for next year, how confident do you feel about being in F1 next year?

Jolyon Palmer: Not very confident right now! Getting into F1 is a lot about timing, and my timing is terrible. The year I'm on the cusp of F1 and we are down to 18 cars and a lot of them being pay drivers with huge budgets that we simply can't compete with, even though I have some backing from some good sponsors.

F1 is in such a mess that teams further down the grid have to take drivers with huge backing to survive. Talent is not near the top of the criteria sadly. Still, a lot has to be decided, so I'm hopeful something can pan out, but I wouldn't describe myself as confident anymore.

B/R: Would you be willing to take a test- or reserve-driver role in F1 for a season, or would you rather be racing in another series? What other options are you considering?

JP: I'm not sure; these are all options that we are considering. Still, we are aiming to be racing in F1 next year, but if it can't happen, then we will have to evaluate our options.

B/R: What is your best quality as a racing driver?

JP: I would say my best quality is my race craft. It's something I've always been strong at in my whole career, especially overtaking. I love racing in GP2 because overtaking is difficult and is a real skill, which makes the racing really exciting. Secondly, I would say I am strong under pressure. This year, we have had a few incidents when the pressure was building, such as in Monza, Budapest and Sochi, [which] were three of my strongest rounds. 

B/R: The first seven GP2 champs all raced in F1, but the last two have not. What makes you different from Davide Valsecchi and Fabio Leimer? Why are you the one to break that trend?

JP: I rate both Leimer and Valsecchi highly. Winning the GP2 Championship is extremely difficult and they are both great drivers, but I have had a stronger year than either of them had. I have a record number of points for a GP2 season. I have had more front row starts [and] more podium finishes. I have made a lot more overtakes than either of them or most other champions in the past, and I've made no mistakes all year, even coming from the back to win in the Monza weekend. I am happy because I couldn't have asked for much more from myself this year. Is it enough to move to F1? I don't know.

Uncredited/Associated Press/Associated Press

B/R: Talent alone is often not enough to get into F1. The smaller teams especially are looking for drivers who can bring sponsorship money to the team. Does that concern you?

JP: Clearly, yes because it's something that a lot of other drivers have more than me. I have beaten drivers like Nasr on track comprehensively—in fact, he has only out-qualified me once in one-and-a-half years, and half-a-year of that, we were team mates. Yet he is already confirmed on the grid for next year because he has huge Brazilian backing. Clearly, this is disappointing.

B/R: What is the best piece of advice your father has ever given you (regarding racing or otherwise)?

JP: Never to give up. He doesn't help me driving wise, but he helps in terms of preparation and mentality.

B/R: Describe the role he has played in your career and development as a driver.

JP: He has been a help all the time in the background as a manager. 

Mark Thompson/Getty Images

B/R: I assume the highest point of your career so far is winning the GP2 championship, but what is the lowest? And more importantly, what did you learn from it?

JP: Definitely the single lowest point would be Spa practice in GP2 in 2011. I was struggling a bit and then I went out of the pit lane for the start of practice on a damp track, was on the radio, spun the rear wheels up and I crashed straight away. It was such an embarrassing moment and a very depressing time, but it isn't always easy in sport and you need tough times to learn from and make the good times more enjoyable.

B/R: You will be 24 when the 2015 season begins—not old, but older than many recent F1 rookies. What advantages do your extra years in the junior formulas give you?

JP: I will be better prepared. A lot of rookies in F1 jump in too soon without achieving such success in junior formulas. If I get the chance in F1 next year, I have more experience, more confidence, more knowledge and will be ready to go out and put in strong performances from the beginning.

B/R: Lewis Hamilton was (or is) the last really successful British driver to make it in F1 (and coincidentally the last British GP2 champ). He is obviously at the top of his game, but he is also almost 30 years old. How important is it for the next generation of British drivers to start making their mark in F1?

JP: It is very important; Britain is the home of motorsport, with most teams being based here and with one of the most popular grands prix at Silverstone. It is important to have successful British drivers coming through to keep the interest in F1. Sadly, though, there is not the money in Britain to support young drivers that there clearly is in countries like Mexico, Brazil and Venezuela, so the number of drivers is reducing.

B/R: I read that you put all your focus into winning the GP2 championship this year, even giving up your social life, but what kinds of things do you enjoy doing away from the track?

JP: I like to spend time with my friends and family. I am also a big sports fan and play football when I can. This year, I have been very strict with my diet and training because I wanted to do everything I possibly could do win GP2. That way I could have no regrets looking back.

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