Jolyon Palmer admitted the tricky conditions at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace contributed to his retirement on Sunday as the Briton was unsighted as he hit the back of Daniil Kvyat, just before the red flags flew for Kimi Raikkonen’s crash.
On the Full Wet tyres compared to the Intermediates of Kvyat, the Renault Sport Formula 1 Team driver had better grip as they ran towards the start-line, but due to the spray, Palmer struck the rear of the Scuderia Toro Rosso and ultimately the damage caused forced his retirement.
Palmer admitted the conditions were extremely difficult all afternoon long, and that guesswork was needed with the spray and the aquaplaning that affected the track.
“The conditions this afternoon were very difficult and unfortunately we had to retire following contact with Kvyat,” said Palmer. “I had some more grip at that point on full wet tyres and I was faster than cars in front on intermediates.
“I wanted to make up some places. In the end the visibility was so bad that I couldn’t even see past my steering wheel. I didn’t see where the corner went, I knew that there was the pitwall and pitlane somewhere; I just couldn’t see anything. Kvyat in front of me was slower and I hit him.
“Around the lap, the visibility wasn’t too bad and there were some places where you aquaplaned but coming up the hill you had no traction and couldn’t see if you were behind anyone else. You had to guess where you were going, there was water on track and rivers of water running across. It was really tricky.”
