Jolyon Palmer admitted he got the set-up wrong for his final run in qualifying at Sepang.
The Renault driver missed out on a place in Q2 as a result while team mate Kevin Magnussen proceeded to the second round and eventually qualified 14th. Trackside operations director Alan Permane said the car was capable of 12th.
“I’ll be frank – my lap was pretty far from what it should have been,” said Palmer after qualifying. “I made the wrong call on set-up between my runs and the lap just didn’t come together.”
Palmer had been inside the cut-off time prior to his final run in Q1, where he struggled with the car’s handling.
“This was particularly frustrating as the pace has looked promising all weekend,” he added. “There’s definitely better possible from the car here.”
BasCB (@bascb)
1st October 2016, 17:23
The whole season seems to “have just not come together” for Palmer.
Andy (@andybantam)
1st October 2016, 17:49
Agreed. I don’t think we’ll ever get the chance to see if it was a frustrating car making his ability. Shame, really.
Cyber
1st October 2016, 17:39
Certainly appreciate Palmer being so direct and honest, but probably not best timing to prolong his contract with Renault?