Felipe Nasr took a bid for a works seat in formula one all the way to the top last week, according to a Brazilian media outlet.
Last week, the Sauber driver was forced to deny claims he took a side in Brazil’s controversial current political situation by visiting the acting president Michel Temer.
"I didn’t come to show support," the Brazilian insisted to O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, "I came as a representative of Brazil to show my willingness to help the country."
However, the Rio-based newspaper O Globo claims that Nasr was accompanied to the meeting not only by his manager Steve Robertson, but also an official of the Brazilian state Parana.
In Parana, there is a Renault road car factory, and O Globo claims that Nasr’s presidential visit was not just a simple meet and greet.
"The Sauber driver was asking for help in trying to convince Renault to hire him for the 2017 season," the report said.