 On 23 October 2015 zvakaziviswa kuti Palmer vaizova kukwidziridzwa zvizere Race Driver nokuda Renault Sport F1 Team muna 2016, uye akava mutyairi wokutanga kubva FIA Formula Two Championship alumni kuti mberi kuna Formula One chikwata. Akabatana neaichimbova mutyairi weMcLaren Kevin Magnussen kudzoka kwaRenault mumutambo semuvaki, mushure mekutenga Lotus F1 Team munguva yechando. Mumutambo wake wokutanga muAustralia Grand PrixPalmer akakwanisa kupfuura Magnussen kusvika pa14th grid position, uye mushure mekutanga kwakanaka akapedza nhangemutange yechi11 pamberi pemumwe wake, kunze kwenzvimbo dzekuwana mapoinzi. 