Renault F1 team urges Jolyon Palmer to show aggression in 2016

After a season as reserve driver for Lotus in 2015, including 13 outings in first practice on grand prix Fridays, Palmer forms part of Renault's line-up in '16 as the French manufacturer returns to F1 as a works team.

Trackside director of operations Alan Permane believes 2014 GP2 champion Palmer has the talent to succeed, but feels he needs to be a little more aggressive.

"Jolyon didn't have too much of a chance to shine last year," Permane told Autosport.

"He was very unlucky with the weather, missing a lot of first practice running.

"He still did well, but now I would like to see him do even more as he was possibly cautious, I don't know.

"He is not the sort of driver who will go out and spin at every corner to see where the limits of the car are, and stuff like that."

Permane added Palmer's racecraft in GP2 shows he can be assertive when required.

"Just to be clear, I have no doubt in him or his ability, or anything like that, and just talking to him you can see he is a bright guy," he said.

"Generally the bright ones, who can drive as well, are the ones who go on to win races and championships.

"You don't often get non-intelligent ones, or some that are not so bright, who win championships because they need the capacity to not only be able to drive quick, but also to think about all sorts of other things as well.

"There is no doubt he is in the first category.

"Seeing what he did in GP2, how quick he was, how well he raced, and knowing how he talks and thinks about race strategy and stuff, just how his mind works, I'm sure he is going to be fine."