JOLYON Palmer is hoping to go one better with his first points finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend.

The 25-year-old came came 11th on his Formula 1 debut for Enstone-based Renault in Australia a fortnight ago.

And after impressing in Melbourne, he is targeting a place in the top ten at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Palmer said: “We did not score points in Australia so we have got a good target again for this weekend, but I like the track and it is nice to come to a circuit I know.

“I want to score points having come so close last time out.

“It is the start of a new weekend, the track is quite different to Melbourne, we need to see where we stack up, but the target is to qualify somewhere in the middle and we can finish in the top ten.”

Grove-based Williams head into the second round with 14 points after Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas finished fifth and eighth respectively in Australia.

Massa, 34, won at Bahrain in 2007 and 2008 while with Ferrari and is looking forward to returning to the circuit.

He said: “I always enjoy going there.

“I really hope we can have another fantastic result.”

OXFORDSHIRE’S Bradley Smith is looking to build on his solid start to the season at the Argentina MotoGP this weekend.

The 25-year-old finished eighth at the first round in Qatar two weeks ago.