Renault Sport Formula One Team’s Jolyon Palmer set the ninth-fastest time in FP3 prior to qualifying for this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, but was caught out by having to slow for yellow flags on his crucial run in Q1, ending the session placed 18^th.

Jolyon Palmer, #30, R.S.17-01
Qualifying: P18, 1:35.279
FP3: P9, 1:35.192

Jolyon said: “The car felt good today; I was ninth in FP3 so there’s clearly pace. I then had a flat-spot on the first run during Q1, which made my second run critical. That lap was going well – to comfortably put me into Q2 – when the yellow flags came out and I had to lift. It’s really frustrating but at least we can see the potential is there. The car feels great, but it’s all to do tomorrow.”

Alan Permane, Renault Sport Formula One Team Sporting Director, added: “Jolyon had a difficult qualifying session after a promising FP3. He looked to be easily into Q2 before the yellow flags came out. He has it all to do tomorrow. We’re not as well-prepared as we’d hope to be for the race, but nor is any team after yesterday’s minimal lap count. We’ve conducted high fuel work on two of the dry tyres today, however the weather forecast does predict a wet race. We’ll adapt to whatever plays out and will be pushing all the way for a strong points haul.”