Nov.18 (GMM) Bruno Senna's mother insists her son is in negotiations to stay with the Renault team, which is set to become Lotus for the 2012 season.

Officially, the Brazilian as well as his current teammate Vitaly Petrov, Romain Grosjean and Robert Kubica are all in the running for the two race seats.

But team boss Eric Boullier has hinted that Pole Kubica will not be ready to return early next season, while Petrov made an extraordinary rant in the Russian press this week that might have breached his contract.

"It's a world where everything is possible, it will be hard to oppose if they want to remove someone," the Russian told Rossiya 2 television.

Therefore, despite Senna occasionally struggling since replacing Nick Heidfeld earlier this season, the 28-year-old looks a favourite to pair alongside new GP2 champion Grosjean in 2012.

"In the first race, Bruno didn't know the car at all," Senna's mother Viviane, the sister of fabled triple world champion Ayrton Senna, said during the SporTV programme Linha de Chegada.

"In formula one there is no testing and the car was new to him, so he has been learning about it live and in colour," she said. "Bruno has barely begun."

Regarding 2012, Viviane Senna said he son is in talks with Renault.

"We are already negotiating a contract with the team," she revealed. "Bruno has already gone beyond the expectations for someone with so little experience.

"The team is happy with him," she added.

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