Kicking off a new season with a crash is obviously painful, but Jolyon Palmer says he was totally caught out by his Renault's sudden reaction in FP2.
The Brit lost the rear through the final corner on his second flying lap and found himself a hopeless passenger as the Renault slammed backwards into the tyre wall.
"I just turned it in, had a bit of understeer and the car really let go on the rear," Palmer said.
"I was completely surprised as I was feeling quite comfortable in the car, it feel really good in the four laps I did today. It was all under control and suddenly it was in the wall.
"I had no chance. It's the first time I've had that sort of problem in this car. It just let go."
Palmer was trying to play catch up at the time the crash occurred, having been stranded in the garage for most of the first session following a gearbox related issue which affected the Renault RS17.
"In the few laps I did, I felt really comfortable and that we were in a good place.
"That's why in FP2 I felt the confidence to go and attack straight away and the lap I was doing was going to be pretty sensible as well.
"Losing a lot of time now puts me on the back foot. I think I can recover it, tomorrow I need to have a really good FP3."
GALLERY: all the pics from Friday's action
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