Jolyon Palmer achieved his best finish in Formula 1 at the rain-affected Singapore Grand Prix, just days after the news broke that he would be dropped from the Renault team for 2018.
Palmer’s sixth-place marked his first points of his second season with Renault. It was easily one of his best-ever races, which included an overtake on the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas and a brilliant defence against former GP2 rival Stoffel Vandoorne.
The Briton has struggled for pace throughout the season and has also suffered from the worst of the team’s reliability issues.
“I’m so happy. It’s pretty huge. I don’t really mind about what’s happened the whole weekend, I’m just happy for the race.” Palmer said.
Palmer denies that the result is any more special for occurring the weekend it was announced he was dropped by the team and reiterates that rumour that Sainz could replace him as soon as Malaysia is pure speculation.
“I would have been happy in any race to finish sixth. I finally get some points for the season and I have seven more races to do a good job and go out with my head held high with Renault. I’ve done one – I have six more to do.”
A first lap crash taking out polesitter Sebastian Vettel along with Max Verstappen, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso gave the midfield drivers an opportunity to take some big points.
Sainz finished the race in fourth for Toro Rosso and Stoffel Vandoorne managed to cross the line for McLaren in seventh, both of which are their highest finishes in F1.
“It was probably my best day in Formula 1,” said Sainz.
“After a weekend with so much media attention with everything going around about my future, to put together a perfect weekend first of all with quali yesterday and now with a faultless race, making it to the end in P4, it was the perfect way to celebrate a difficult weekend, but a weekend that I will remember.”
