RENAULT are still waiting for their first point of the Formula 1 season after just missing out on the top ten for the second race in a row.
Kevin Magnussen came home 11th at the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix for the Enstone-based team, while teammate Jolyon Palmer failed to make the start.
It rounded off a difficult weekend for Renault, who finished 11th and 12th at the opening race of the season in Australia last month.
Palmer developed a suspected hydraulic issue on the formation lap and had to retire immediately, while Magnussen started from the pit lane after picking up a penalty in practice for failing to stop to have the car weighed on Friday.
The Dane recovered well in the race, but could not climb into the top ten.
He said: “We were so close to scoring points; it’s frustrating to think what could have been had we not incurred a penalty.
“There are signs of good things to come for the team.”
Palmer said: “These things can happen in racing, and I certainly want to move to the next race as quickly as possible.”
Next up is the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 15-17.
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