JOLYON Palmer blamed Romain Grosjean, from the Banbury-based Haas team, after crashing out of the Russian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Sochi Driving his Enstone prepared Renault, Palmer went into the wall at turn two on the first lap.

Grosjean bumped into Palmer, who lost control of his car and then inadvertently took both he and the Renault driver out of the race.

Palmer bemoaned on the radio. “He [Grosjean] was too ambitious.

“If you come in from the inside, it always bunches on the apex. I had cars outside me.

I had to turn the corner and hope he used his brain.”

Palmer’s teammate Nico Hulkenberg finished eighth, one place ahead of Felipe Massa, from the Grove-based Williams, whose Lance Stroll came 11th.

Kevin Magnussen was 13th in the other Haas.

Valterri Bottas secured his first F1 win in his Mercedes, with the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel in second place.