Palmer baffled by Hungarian GP spin that cost him first F1 points

Palmer had moved up from 17th on the grid to run 10th in the closing stages, making good use of a long first stint, jumping Nico Hulkenberg in the pits and then benefiting from a pitstop problem for Sergio Perez.

But then he spun at Turn 4 with 23 laps to go, leaving him to finish 12th.

"I had the pace on Hulkenberg. I was driving really within myself," said Palmer when asked by Autosport to explain the incident.

"I wasn't exactly hanging anything out and hadn't had any big moments, everything was under control but then I lost the car in Turn 4.

"I have not a clue why.

"I have no idea what happened. I didn't do anything different. I didn't do a different line, I didn't do a different engine speed.

"I never had oversteer the whole race in that corner and then I turned in and lost the car completely.

"I had a massive snap and then I was pointing backwards."

Tenth place would have been only Renault's second points finish of its difficult transitional season back under factory ownership.

"This weekend has been perfect apart from one corner," rued Palmer.

"It's easily my best race ever. The strategy was really good. The pit stop. Everything came together and for some reason I lost the car so I'm gutted.

"The good news is that we didn't luck into this, which shows we have the pace and can do it again."

He is optimistic Renault's improved form will not be a one-off.

"We've made a big breakthrough so I think it will carry on for another couple of races," Palmer said.

"But my first F1 points were there for the taking and I didn't take them."