Palmer still upbeat despite botched race

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Jolyon Palmer's German GP weekend got off to a reasonably good start with the Renault driver accessing Q2 on Saturday, but unfortunately it was all downhill from there.

Starting his race 14th on the grid, Palmer blasted off the grid and quickly passed a few cars but upon entering the braking zone into Turn 2, the Renault locked up and made contact with Felipe Massa's Williams.

The subsequent pit-stop at the end of the first lap compromised the British drivers' afternoon, leaving him well down the order in the end, with just Rio Haryanto's Manor behind him.

"Everything was really positive coming into this event, and I had a good start," he said.

"I think I was 10th, so it's disappointing. I had a big lock-up in Turn 2 and massively flat-spotted my tyres.

"I could barely see where I was going because of the vibrations and I tipped a Williams whilst trying to hold on from one of the McLarens – this damaged my front wing which we changed at the second pit-stop.

Palmer still remains upbeat however, thanks to a recent breakthrough in performance enjoyed by Renault, but he is in dire need of a good result if he aspires to remain at Renault in 2017.

"It's a shame but we can take the positives and focus on the second half of the season."

A second half where a result cannot come too soon for Jolyon Palmer.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.