JOLYON Palmer cut a frustrated figure after he was forced to swap positions with teammate Nico Hulkenberg during the early stages of the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Enstone-based Renault believed the German driver, who started from 12th after a gearbox change, was quicker than the Briton in a race won by Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

But Hulkenberg, although classified 17th, returned to the pits with three laps remaining following contact with the Banbury-prepared Haas of Kevin Magnussen.

Palmer found himself as high as eighth, but finished outside of the points in 12th.

He said: “My strategy was compromised to try to help Nico’s race, and that meant Magnussen and (Daniil) Kvyat jumped me.

“It was a frustrating run to the flag with much more pace, but no chance to overtake them on this track.”

Renault’s managing director Cyril Abiteboul said: “It was clear that Nico had more pace than Jolyon in the early stages, so they swapped position.”

Williams recorded the two fastest pit stops, but struggled for pace on the track.

Lance Stroll finished 14th, while Paul Di Resta, taking part in his first F1 race for nearly four years after replacing Felipe Massa, who felt unwell on Saturday, was forced to retire due to an oil leak.

Stroll said: “It was quite a boring race, I was driving alone the whole time, so not much happened and we didn’t have the pace to stay with the others.”

Haas driver Magnussen finished 13th, while teammate Romain Grosjean was forced to stop his car due to a loose wheel-nut after pitting.