Drivers were thrown in at the deep end: 'You better be careful then'

Rain at a difficult moment

"This race start is the sort where you can gain some important ground, but equally you can destroy your race immediately," Palmer explained to F1.com. "If you go brave at Turn 1 you can look a hero if you pull it off, but a complete villain if you don’t, and that’s exactly what happened to both Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll at Turn 1."

"In fact, I’m not even sure Bottas was going brave, it seemed to me he was distracted after a wheel-spinning start and slight pincer move by [Sergio] Perez and [Lando] Norris on either side", Palmer continued. Bottas drove into Lando Norris and Sergio Perez. All three drivers dropped out immediately after the crash.

Bottas should have been more careful

Max Verstappen was also hit, although he was able to continue his journey. Palmer says Verstappen, Perez and Norris acted very cautiously in the first corner. "Bottas misjudged his brake point – from the moment he hit the pedal it was too late." According to Palmer, once the car starts to slide there is nothing more you can do.

The rain certainly made the start more difficult, Palmer also knows. But that's precisely why the former Formula One driver thinks it's better to be cautious. "You have no reference at all for it, but it often pays to be cautious in these situations."