Palmer handed ultimatum by Renault

Will Hungary be Palmer's last race?

Rumors in the F1 paddock are that Hungary in 2 weeks could be the last F1 race for Jolyon Palmer.

Reports say Palmer was told by Renault 'you either perform or you are gone.'

There are rumors that Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz Jr. would replace him if Palmer is sacked.

Tension is clearly high between the Toro Rosso driver and his Red Bull bosses, with Christian Horner now admitting the 22-year-old can be bought by a rival for an appropriate exit fee.

However, Horner, his fellow Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko, Toro Rosso's Franz Tost and Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul have all denied that Sainz switching to replace the struggling Jolyon Palmer at Renault will be complete by Hungary.

Now, Sainz is also playing down that scenario.

"I am not thinking about anything except the Hungarian grand prix with Toro Rosso," he said.

As for the Renault switch rumors, Sainz continued: "Yes, many people are asking me to comment on these rumors.

"For me, it's just speculation, and I do not comment on that."

Rumors emerged ahead of the Silverstone race that Palmer, who has yet to score a point in 2017, was set to be replaced by Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz Jr for the Hungarian GP later this month.

But Abiteboul said he personally assured the Briton before the race that speculation about him being replaced for Budapest was not true, but he did not he would be replaced afterward.

"I have completely dismissed speculation of him being replaced in Budapest," he told Autosport.

"It's not good, particularly on Sunday morning.

"When I found out the proportion it had taken on the media side I made it clear to everyone that there was absolutely nothing true in that, and I told that to Jo directly.

"I wanted to clear that off his mind before the start."