Stellar drive brings Palmer first championship point

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Renault's Jolyon Palmer put in a remarkable drive at Sepang on Sunday to finally collect his long waited first championship point.

Palmer's P10 in Malaysia combined consistency with an efficient two-stop Hard/Soft strategy from the Renault pitwall, enabling the Brit to achieve what he missed out on when he wasted a 10th place finish in Hungary earlier in the summer.

"I'm really happy, especially after yesterday," he explained after the race.

"I was feeling strong all weekend; I'm happy with how I've been driving recently, but I messed it up a bit yesterday and today I pulled it back – the perfect race from my side.

"The team did a good job on the strategy, we kept the tyres alive, we beat some quicker cars and did everything we could I think."

Although Palmer evidently benefited from a few retirements up the road, nobody will dispute the fact that he was himself overdue for a bit of good fortune.

"I got a little bit of luck with Lewis [Hamilton retiring with an engine failure], and someone else dropping out, but I think we're overdue it.

"So many times we were close, there was something going against us, but this time I was feeling good in the car, the set-up was nice, the strategy was good, I was driving well, and we got a break this time, which was nice."

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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.