JOLYON Palmer crashed out of a thrilling Monaco Grand Prix as the Enstone-based Renault team endured a frustrating afternoon in the principality.
The 25-year-old aquaplaned into the barriers on lap seven after the race was started on wet tyres behind the safety car.
Teammate Kevin Magnussen also retired as Renault following a collision with Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat.
After the Danish driver hit the barriers for a second time, he retired the car on lap 32 of a race won by Lewis Hamilton.
Palmer, who had started 18th, insisted there was nothing he could do about his crash.
He said: “The traction was appalling after the safety car and I got caught out.
“I had wheel-spin in fifth gear on the white line that crosses the track.
“There was nothing I could do – I was just a passenger and went straight away into the wall.”
Teammate Magnussen showed promising progress with an early swap to intermediate tyres, but his race was undone following a collision with Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat.
After the Danish driver hit the barriers for a second time, he retired the car on lap 32.
The 23-year-old said: “We were in a good position as a lot of people were still to pit and we gained a lot of places.
“Unfortunately, Kvyat just lost his mind and crashed into me and that was effectively the end of my race.”
l SEAN Walkinshaw praised his drivers after a string of positive results at Oulton Park.
Jan Jonck scored two top-five finishes and an eighth place in the fourth round of the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship for Chipping Norton-based SWR.
Teammates Thomas Maxwell and Eugene Denyssen recorded best finishes of ninth and 11th respectively.
Team owner Walkinshaw said: “It was a strong weekend and very pleasing from a performance point of view.”
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