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Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:10 am
by Ed
2009 Japanese Grand Prix Sunday

Today's Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka saw Fernando Alonso finish in tenth place, while teammate Romain Grosjean completed the race in sixteenth.

Today's Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka saw Fernando Alonso finish in tenth place, while teammate Romain Grosjean completed the race in sixteenth.

Fernando Alonso, R2904, P10
"My race was really decided after qualifying because although the car was competitive and I pushed hard, it was not enough to score any points. We now have to concentrate on the two remaining races and make sure that we qualify well because if we do that I am sure we can score some strong points and have a good end to the season."

Romain Grosjean, R2903, P16
"Overall it was a tough afternoon for me. The car was very heavy on fuel and was difficult to drive as I had a lot of understeer. The Suzuka circuit was also a new experience for me this weekend, but I did my best to complete the race without any problems. I'm now looking forward to the next race in Brazil."

Jean-François Caubet, Managing Director
"I would like to congratulate Red Bull Racing on yet another victory, which shows the competitiveness of the Renault engine. Unfortunately for the Renault F1 Team, a weekend that looked promising for us after the Singapore podium, didn't meet our expectations. Both cars started so far down the grid that even with a good strategy and an excellent performance from Fernando, who made up six places, we didn't manage to get into the points. We will need to deliver those in the next two races."

Bob Bell, Team Principal
"It would be easy to say that it was a disappointing race, but in fact it was a disappointing qualifying session, which really determined what happened to us in the race. Fernando did a great job to gain six places, but I think the race would have been a different story had he not had his qualifying penalty and started in the top ten. Romain drove a solid race to bring the car home, which is as much as we expected from him considering his starting position. So it wasn't a great weekend, but there are positives: the team worked well together; we remain upbeat; and we look forward to Brazil with continued optimism."

Remi Taffin, Head of Engine Operations
"Our return to Suzuka was not particularly successful. We had the speed but our grid positions compromised our chances of a good result. We used new engines for this race and they completed their mileage without any problems. For Brazil, we now have a choice as it's likely that we will use new engines, but that is still to be confirmed."

Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:22 pm
by Ed
2009 Brazilian Grand Prix Preview

The Renault F1 Team prepares for this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo.

Fernando Alonso: "Interlagos always has an amazing atmosphere"

Fernando, after a disappointing race in Japan, how is the mood of the team ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix?
Although we didn't get the maximum from the race in Japan, the mood in the team is still very positive. We know that the car is quick, but we were just unlucky in qualifying, which was a shame as I think I could have scored some points if I had started the race in a better position. We know that we have a very tough battle in the championship against Williams and BMW and so any points I can score in the final two races will be very important.

What memories do you have of racing in Brazil?
Interlagos is a circuit that will always be very special to me because I won both my world titles with Renault there. It's one of the most enjoyable races of the year because the fans are so passionate about Formula One and there is an amazing atmosphere all weekend.

Talk us through the challenge of racing at Interlagos...
The track surface is usually very bumpy so you need a car that can ride the bumps. As the circuit is anti-clockwise, it's more demanding for the drivers because there are several long left hand corners, which put high g-forces on your neck. To find the right set-up is not easy as there are quick corners, slow corners and a very long straight. The secret of a good lap-time is to have an efficient aero package and a car with good mechanical grip for the middle section of the lap.


Romain Grosjean: "Interlagos will be a great experience"

Romain, after five races, how are you finding life in Formula One?
I'm just as happy as I was when I made my debut in Valencia in August. Being a Formula One driver has always been my dream and each time I get in the car still feels very special.

Interlagos will be another new experience – are you looking forward to it?
Yes, I'm really excited about racing in Brazil and I don't want the season to end. Interlagos is probably not the easiest circuit, but it's a famous track and driving there will be a great experience for me.

How do you prepare for a new circuit?
There are two aspects to my preparation for Brazil. Firstly, because Interlagos is anti-clockwise, I have done lots of training, especially on my neck, to prepare for the physical demands of the track. Also, as I have never driven there before, I have been watching lots of videos to learn the circuit layout. I plan to arrive in Sao Paulo at the start of the week so I can walk the track and experience it for myself.

What are your aims for the weekend?
My objectives are to continue learning about Formula One and to gain experience so that I can improve and be as close to Fernando as possible. Hopefully I can have a trouble-free race, the car will be competitive, and I can score some points for the team.



Bob Bell: "We will take an aggressive approach to the end of the season"

Bob, after the podium in Singapore, the team was out of luck in Japan. Sum up the weekend for us...
It was disappointing that we came away without any points, especially as Fernando drove a very strong and aggressive race to make up six places. Ultimately we were hampered by the problems we encountered in qualifying, which meant Fernando started back in 16th place. Despite missing out on points, the team still did an excellent job and we can be reasonably satisfied that we got as much out of the race as we could given where we started. Our focus is now on the next couple of races and I believe that if we can qualify well, we can convert that performance into points.

The team faces a close fight in the constructors' championship – chasing Williams and defending against BMW. Does that alter the approach to the final couple of races?
I don't think so. We go to every race determined to win and at the very least aiming to finish on the podium, and we're not going to alter our fundamental approach by being defensive to try and protect our position. The only way that we can come out on top relative to both those teams is to take an aggressive approach and try to maximise our finishing positions.

Interlagos is renowned as a bumpy and challenging track for the cars and the drivers – what's the secret to going well there?
It's a demanding track for drivers as it's anti-clockwise which puts a lot of demands on them physically. In terms of the car, we will run with quite a lot of downforce and it's important to have a well-balanced car with good stability which gives the drivers confidence. We're also racing at altitude as the circuit is about 800 metres above sea level, which impacts on the power of the engine, so we will need to work on the mapping to optimise engine performance.

It was recently announced that Robert Kubica will drive for Renault in 2010. What has convinced you that he is the man to fulfil Renault's high ambitions for the future?
First and foremost he's a very quick and consistent driver who has clearly demonstrated his ability. He's also a real fighter who never gives up, which is a characteristic that fits well with our approach at Renault. Looking to the future, he is definitely somebody who is going to push the team and his hunger for success and leadership qualities on the racetrack will help motivate the team. Finally, on a personal level he is a genuinely nice guy who I believe will work well with our engineers and have a good relationship with the team.


Interlagos: Tech File

Interlagos is a circuit of contrasting extremes, combining slow hairpins with one of the longest straights of the season. Sitting in a natural bowl, it undulates throughout its 4.309 km length, and is notorious for its bumpy surface – although this has improved with resurfacing in recent years. The physical demands of the bumpy circuit are intensified by the fact that it runs anti-clockwise, subjecting the drivers' necks to the opposite loadings experienced at a normal clockwise track. It's a circuit where overtaking is possible, particularly on the entry to turn 1, and the set-up compromise therefore tends to favour straight-line speed over optimum lap-time, to ensure the drivers can make up positions, and defend them, during the 71-lap race.


Aerodynamics
The contrasting nature of the Interlagos circuit makes very different demands on the cars. The first and last sectors are made up primarily of long straights, where good top speed is necessary to maintain competitiveness and protect position; this means a low level of downforce is required. However, the middle sector requires the opposite: high downforce to ensure good grip under acceleration, braking and cornering through the twisting series of hairpins. Balancing these requirements gives an optimum downforce setting for achieving the fastest possible lap-time. However, this optimum is then skewed by the demands of racing with other cars. To do so successfully requires competitive end of straight speeds – and achieving these may drag us away from our optimum downforce to a slightly lower setting which allows the drivers to overtake and defend their position into turn 1.

Fernando explains: "It's very important to get a clean exit and carry good speed through the final corner so you don't come under pressure down the long straight, which is also uphill. The end of the main straight is the best opportunity for overtaking and if you can get in the slipstream you have a good chance to get by at the first chicane."

Mechanical set-up
The combination of high and low-speed corners means it is hard to find a suitable mechanical compromise at Interlagos. Just as with our choice of aero level, we prioritise certain sectors of the circuit over others. The most important corner at Interlagos is turn 12, as it determines your speed along the uphill main straight – a full throttle period lasting over 15 seconds. We therefore pay special attention ensuring the car gets a good exit from this corner, even though this can generate some slow-speed understeer in the middle sector. However, any losses incurred with this understeer are outweighed by the benefits in lap-time and competitiveness achieved in sector 3. The second important factor for the mechanical set-up is the track surface. This was traditionally very bumpy, but the recent resurfacing allows the teams to run lower ride heights. The circuit is relatively easy on the brakes, with just three major braking events, and overall braking energy similar to somewhere like Barcelona.

Fernando explains: "The section from turns six to eight is a difficult part of the lap and shows the contrasting nature of Interlagos. You have to treat turns six and seven as one long corner, but it's important to take a very smooth approach and stay off the curbs. It's also bumpy which can unsettle the car and you have to be careful not to oversteer. Then after a high-speed corner, you have turn eight, one of the slowest on the circuit. This time you have to be aggressive with the steering and use the curbs as well as fighting understeer."


Tyres
Interlagos includes relatively few high-speed corners with high lateral loadings on the tyres. Coupled with a track surface that is not particularly abrasive, this means we can use relatively soft tyres. Consequently, Bridgestone has made available the medium and super-soft compounds from its 2009 range for this weekend.


Engine
The long main straight at Interlagos means engine power is a critical factor at this circuit, and the longest single period at full throttle is over 15 seconds. All the engines, though, must contend with the effects of running at altitude, as the circuit is situated around 800m above sea level. The reduced atmospheric pressure costs the engines around 7% of their power output; as a result, the 62% of the lap spent at full throttle is equivalent to 56% at sea level. While this reduces the demands on some components such as the pistons, other parts of the engine, such as the crankshaft, are still subjected to significant loadings. Driveability is also an important factor, especially through the winding middle sector. The drivers run in the lowest gears at this point on the circuit, with sudden changes of direction and significant brake and throttle inputs. Smooth power delivery can make a real and significant contribution to maintaining a stable balance, and optimum driving lines, in this part of the circuit.

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 12:40 pm
by Ed
2009 Brazilian Grand Prix Friday - 16 OCT 2009

The Renault F1 Team completed a busy day of practice in Sao Paulo in preparation for this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix.

Fernando Alonso, R2904

Free practice 1: 28 laps, 1:13.787, P16
Free Practice 2: 27 laps, 1:12.314, P1

Fernando: "Today wasn't easy because the weather conditions were changing all the time. That made it difficult to concentrate on the set-up of the car, but in the end we did some good runs with positive results and hopefully tomorrow we can continue this good work. I think that the weather will be the key to this weekend so we need to react quickly to any changes and be flexible. We have a very interesting weekend ahead of us and hopefully we can maximise the work that we do tomorrow morning so that we are in good shape for qualifying."


Romain Grosjean, R2903

Free practice 1: 23 laps, 1:14.173, P20
Free Practice 2: 27 laps, 1:12.806, P11

Romain: "The day has gone quite well but the weather has been so unpredictable. We still managed to make made good progress and tomorrow morning I will continue working hard to improve my times. This was my first experience of the Interlagos circuit and it's a great place, although it isn't easy and the track has lots of uphill and downhill sections which are challenging. Tomorrow I need to continue learning the track as well as completing my preparations for qualifying and the race on Sunday."


Bob Bell, Team Principal
"Today the whole field was very closely matched and at the end of practice there was only a second covering all the cars. In the afternoon Fernando was fastest and Romain was only half a second down in P11. The major problem today was the lack of grip, which I think everybody suffered with, but overall the balance of our car wasn't too bad. During the day we made a few changes which brought some good results and we also have a reasonable understanding of the performance of the tyres. So we are in good shape now in terms of knowing what to do for the race, but we still need to find some more grip."

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 12:41 pm
by Ed
2009 Brazilian Grand Prix Saturday

Wet weather in Sao Paulo saw a delayed qualifying session for the Brazilian Grand Prix. When conditions improved, Fernando Alonso qualified in 10th and Romain Grosjean in 13th.

FREE PRACTICE 3

Fernando Alonso, R2904, 5 laps, P4, 1:24.125
Romain Grosjean, R2903, 5 laps, P6, 1:24.389

QUALIFYING

Fernando Alonso, R2904, P10, 1:21.422

Fernando: "I think this was the longest qualifying session that I have ever taken part in! The weather conditions made it interesting, but the car didn't have the pace to qualify higher up the grid today. If we get changeable weather tomorrow, it will impact on the race and if we can react to the conditions at the right times then we can make up some places. We will certainly try our best to do that."


Romain Grosjean, R2903, P13, 1:22.477

Romain: "The rain was very heavy for the first part of qualifying, but I was very happy with the car. It was the same for all the drivers and I did well in these conditions. Unfortunately in Q2 the track was drying, but we didn't have time to fit the intermediate tyres and so I did the whole session with the same wet tyres. I also want to say thanks to my mechanics for the super job they did to repair the car after my accident this morning."

Bob Bell, Team Principal
"It was a difficult qualifying session with the extreme weather conditions that we have had today. We were very lucky to get Fernando into Q2 because the car just wasn't quick enough today. It's disappointing that he is not higher than 10th, but he's in reasonably good shape for the race tomorrow and we will take it from there. The latest forecast suggests that it will be wet in the morning and there is a good chance of rain in the afternoon. So it seems the conditions will be changeable again as we have seen today."

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 4:52 pm
by Ed
2009 Brazilian Grand Prix Sunday - 18 OCT 2009

It was a disappointing Brazilian Grand Prix for the Renault F1 Team as Fernando Alonso retired on the opening lap of the race. Teammate Romain Grosjean completed the race in 13th.

Fernando Alonso, R2904, DNF
"It was a very busy first lap and unfortunately I got caught up in it. I made a good start and we had a promising strategy for the race, but unfortunately when Sutil and Trulli collided I was hit by the Force India as well. It's a real shame because this is a special track for me; I always enjoy racing here and I think we could have scored points today."

Romain Grosjean, R2903, P13
"I made a good start but after that I was missing grip and it was difficult for me to get heat into the tyres. I did my best and pushed hard throughout the race, but unfortunately that wasn't enough. The end of my race was better but because of the problems at the start of the race I only finished in 13th place."

Jean-François Caubet, Managing Director
"It was unfortunate to see Fernando taken out by Sutil because he probably could have challenged for points today. Romain had a good start to the race, although his pace in the early laps saw him drop back as he was overtaken by several cars. We are now looking forward to Abu Dhabi and we hope that he can have a strong race there. We are happy to see another victory for Mark Webber and Red Bull Renault, which once again shows the competitiveness of the Renault engine."

Bob Bell, Team Principal
"This race is a great disappointment for us with Fernando being taken out on the first lap through no fault of his own. He did start down in 10th place but we genuinely thought that he could have a solid race and could finish in the points. Romain finished the race but really didn't manage to keep the people he needed to behind him early on when he was heavy on fuel. But he brought the car home which is good. Although it's a disappointing race for us, we will hold our heads up going into the final race of the season and fight again."

Remi Taffin, Head of Engine Operations
"We brought new engines here and there have been no issues in the wet qualifying yesterday or during the race today. Romain gave his all in the race but unfortunately couldn't challenge for points. He will use the same engine for the race in Abu Dhabi. Fernando's race unfortunately ended on the first lap, which is a shame, although his engine will be practically new for the final race of the season."

Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 6:42 pm
by Ed
2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview - 27 OCT 2009

The Renault F1 Team prepares for this weekend's inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final race of the 2009 season.

Fernando Alonso: "I would love to finish the season on a high"

Fernando, sum up your feelings after a short Brazilian Grand Prix...
It was such a disappointment as I think we could have scored some points in the race. I made a good start, but there were a lot of incidents on the first lap, which caught me out as I was hit by [Adrian] Sutil after he collided with [Jarno] Trulli. That was a real shame as I love racing at Interlagos and I was disappointed not to be part of an exciting race on a great circuit.

Are you looking forward to racing in Abu Dhabi for the first time?
I always enjoy the challenge of a new circuit and the track in Abu Dhabi looks very impressive. It will be a new experience for everyone so it's important that we maximise all the sessions and learn as much as we can quickly to try and find an advantage. I think the facility looks amazing and will be great for the people of Abu Dhabi. We went there a few years ago for the street demo and saw how much enthusiasm the fans have for Formula One.

As it's your final race for Renault, will you be aiming to end the relationship on a high?
Absolutely, I would love to finish the season and my Renault career with a great result. It will be an emotional race because I have enjoyed so many special memories with this team and I am leaving behind a lot of friends. Renault is one of the great teams in Formula One and I look forward to fighting with them on the track in the years ahead.


Romain Grosjean: "Abu Dhabi will be a new experience for everyone"

Romain, did you enjoy your first experience of Interlagos?
I thought the track was amazing and very challenging, although with the changeable weather it was difficult to learn the limits of the circuit and find a good set-up. In the race I made a good start, but I had some problems warming up the tyres so I was missing grip in the early laps and lost a lot of places. The car felt better at the end of the race but because of the problems at the start it was too late to recover.

What are you expecting from the Yas Marina circuit?
It will be a new adventure for everyone and I'm very curious to see what it's like as there has been so much expectation for this track. The photos I've seen of the marina look amazing and I'm sure it will be a great way to end the season. The layout looks like fun: it will be quick as there are some long straights and hopefully some overtaking opportunities. I think it will also feel like a street circuit with the big buildings and the yachts in the harbour.

What's your target for the final race of the season?
As it's a new track for all the drivers, things should be easier for me as we all have to learn the circuit. My aim is to try and match Fernando, qualify well and hopefully fight for points in the race.


Bob Bell: "We want to be challenging for the podium this weekend"


Bob, how disappointing was the race in Brazil?
It was very frustrating to lose Fernando from the race through no fault of his own, although we have to be grateful that he didn't have a bigger accident with the Force India. We also have to be grateful that we didn't get incinerated on the pit wall as we felt the heat from the fireball in the pit lane! Romain simply didn't have the pace in the early part of the race as he wasn't happy with the grip of the car, which cost him a lot of ground. So the weekend didn't meet our expectations, especially as we lost our advantage over BMW and we now face an uphill struggle to beat them in the final race.

A new venue awaits Formula One this weekend – what are you expecting from Abu Dhabi?
I think all the teams enjoy visiting a new country and a new track always has a modern infrastructure with so much space available for the mechanics and engineers. It remains to be seen how good the circuit will be in terms of the action it produces, but from what I've seen so far it seems the organisers have done an excellent job. As a team we enjoy the challenge of a new track and we will be ready to exploit any advantage we can.

What's a realistic target for this weekend?
It would be great to get Romain and Fernando through to Q3 in qualifying so that we have some reasonable starting positions for the race. We want to be challenging for points and even the podium, which is a realistic target considering the performance level we have already demonstrated this season.

Renault says goodbye to Fernando this weekend. How much will the team miss him?
He's made a huge contribution to the team, especially winning two world championships in 2005 and 2006 so he will be missed enormously. It's often said that he is the best driver on the grid and I wouldn't disagree with that so we're understandably sad to see the end of our very successful relationship. But we're also looking forward and we're all delighted to be welcoming Robert Kubica to the team as I believe he will quickly show that he is of the same calibre as Fernando. He's a strong team player, a great motivator and incredibly quick so we have plenty to look forward to as we enter a new era for the team.


Abu Dhabi Track Guide with Fernando Alonso

Fernando, what are your first impressions of the new circuit in Abu Dhabi?
It looks like it will be quite a demanding circuit for the drivers as there are over twenty corners in the lap – and some of them look very challenging. However, when you are looking at a map it's difficult to really understand a circuit and it's only when you get there and walk the circuit that you start to feel what it is really like.

How do you normally prepare for a new circuit?
We look at a lot of simulation data and I work very closely with the team to understand the demands of the track – much more than I would do for a track that I already know. We will probably spend five times longer preparing for a new venue and the circuit walk becomes very important for me and the engineers.

Which corners have caught your attention?
I think turns 11, 12 and 13 look interesting. I remember when we first saw the map of the circuit it reminded me of the difficult turn ten chicane in Singapore. It looks like turns eight and 11 will be the two big braking zones and for sure there will be opportunities to overtake there.

How long does it take you to learn a new track?
It doesn't take long because we jump in the car knowing the circuit perfectly in our mind as we have studied the map. After three or four laps you realise the lines and the braking points so I would say five laps is enough to know the track pretty well. But it's true that every lap you feel more confident and you learn more about the track and how to get the most from it. The final laps of the race are usually your best laps as you know the track so well by then.


The engineer's perspective with Alan Permane


Alan, tell us about the team's technical preparations for a new circuit...
We usually begin our preparations about two months ahead of the race, which is when we receive a detailed map showing the layout and characteristics of the circuit. This gives us an idea of the set-up we will need in terms of the downforce levels and the demands on the brakes and the engine. We then feed the circuit map into our computers to create a virtual circuit where we can run simulations with a computer model of our car. This allows us to evaluate many different set-up options which can be easily changed to help us work out a good base set-up.

Once we have arrived at the circuit and run the car in free practice, we will send the real circuit data back to the factory, which can be used to run more accurate simulations. The logged data from Friday practice can also be used on our chassis dynamics rig to explore the ride characteristics of the circuit and can reveal improvements to the damping or perhaps to the spring rates. Any suggestions from the factory for improving the set-up of the car usually come through by the end of Friday so that we can try them on Saturday morning ahead of qualifying.

What are your first impressions of the Abu Dhabi circuit?
There are a couple of reasonably long straights, but it does look like it will be quite stop-start – a bit like the street circuit in Valencia. In terms of downforce, it will be on the higher side, although we won't run maximum downforce settings because of the long straights where straight-line speed will be important.

There are a lot of right-angled corners, but it's difficult to predict the impact this will have on car set-up as it depends on the layout of the curbs. That's one thing we will examine during our track walk. What we do know already is that the drivers will want a car that is biased towards traction as the circuit doesn't have high-speed changes of direction, which would require a stiffer car set-up. So to aid good traction from the low-speed corners we will aim to give the drivers a softer rear end.

In terms of braking, our simulations have shown it to be similar to Valencia and Melbourne so it's by no means an easy circuit on the brakes, but it's not as tough as Monza.

Which parts of the track look challenging to you?
I agree with Fernando that turns 11, 12 and 13 will be interesting and certainly worth a lot of lap-time. Drivers always enjoy the high-speed corners, but most of the gains can be found in these low-speed corners where you spend the most time. So, with this in mind, turns five, six and seven will also be a section of the lap where the car needs to work well so we can maximise the gains in lap-time.

Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:03 pm
by Ed
2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Friday - 30 OCT 2009

The Renault F1 Team completed a busy day of practice at the Yas Marina circuit in preparation for this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Fernando Alonso, R2901

Free practice 1: 23 laps, 1:45.865, P16
Free Practice 2: 29 laps, 1:42.782, P16

Fernando: "Today we experienced Yas Marina for the first time so we had to learn the circuit and work out the best way to set the car up. We tried a lot of different things and made some good progress by concentrating on getting good grip and traction in the low-speed corners. As we expected, the track was a bit dirty to begin with, but when more rubber was laid down I started to get a good feeling for the circuit and the car. We have a lot of information to look over tonight so that we can make some changes in the morning to find some more performance from the car before qualifying."

Romain Grosjean, R2903

Free practice 1: 27 laps, 1:46.411, P20
Free Practice 2: 37 laps, 1:43.021, P18

Romain: "The circuit is very nice and it feels like there are two different parts. The first part is like a ‘normal' track and the second part, including the third sector, has a lot of 90-degree corners that are very challenging. I quite like sectors one and two, but not sector three as you cannot afford to make any mistakes there. These very different sectors are a challenge when it comes to setting up the car. Also, the temperature difference between the sessions played a relatively big role in today's programme as we ran on the track during the day and the night, which allowed us to see what it will be like for the race. Now I'm look forward to tomorrow and building on today's work."

Bob Bell, Team Principal
"It was an interesting first day in Abu Dhabi. Coming here we thought we would struggle more with the track, but it was cleaner than we expected. For us the day was mainly about the tyres, and in both sessions our main issue was with drop-off in rear tyre performance, particularly in the low-speed corners, which caused the cars to oversteer. In the high-speed corners the cars had a better balance with a bit of understeer. By the end of the day we had made good progress and have a good idea of how to move forward tomorrow."

Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:05 pm
by Ed
2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Saturday - 31 OCT 2009

It was a disappointing qualifying session for the Renault F1 Team at Yas Marina as Fernando Alonso and Romain Grosjean qualified 16th and 19th places for tomorrow's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

FREE PRACTICE 3

Fernando Alonso, R2901, 19 laps, P16, 1:41.897
Romain Grosjean, R2903, 19 laps, P18, 1:42.213


QUALIFYING

Fernando Alonso, R2901, P16, 1:41.667

Fernando: "It was disappointing for us to be out after Q1 as obviously I would have liked to qualify higher up the grid. Although the team have done their best to prepare the car, it just wasn't quick enough to set a better time this afternoon. Tomorrow I will do all I can to get the best result possible in my last race with Renault."

Romain Grosjean, R2903, P19, 1:41.950

Romain: "It was a difficult qualifying session today. We were missing performance but we still hoped to make it through to at least into Q2. We have done as much as we could, but sadly we were out in Q1. For tomorrow, it's important not to make any mistakes and to finish as high as possible."

Bob Bell, Team Principal
"Today's qualifying session was disappointing. We haven't been competitive this weekend so the qualifying result didn't come as a great surprise to us, although we did think that we might get Fernando into Q2 so it was even more disappointing not to achieve that. However, we remain confident for the race and we will exploit any opportunity that might come our way. We will prepare ourselves as much as we can for the race and will see what it brings."

Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:06 pm
by Ed
2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Sunday - 1 NOV 2009

The sport's first twilight race in Abu Dhabi saw Fernando Alonso and Romain Grosjean finish in 14th and 18th places respectively.

Fernando Alonso, R2901, P14
"The result today is disappointing as we were not able to produce the performance we wanted. I would have liked to finish the season on a high, especially as this was my last race with Renault. I would like to thank the entire team for everything that we have achieved together over the years. We had some great victories and won championships together. It has been the most amazing seven years of my career and something I will never forget."

Romain Grosjean, R2903, P18
"The race today was disappointing. I made a good start but I was blocked several times. I also suffered with some brake problems during the race. Towards the end I unfortunately lost a place to Fisichella, which was a shame, but the performance of the car didn't really allow me to show what I was capable of today. It's now the end of the season and I can say that I have learnt an enormous amount this year, especially being teammate to Fernando."

Jean-François Caubet, Managing Director
"We have to recognise that this has been a difficult year for Renault. From a technical standpoint the year started with confusion, and on the human side we will miss Fernando who is leaving the team. From the political perspective, all the problems that we have encountered this year have been negative for us and for Formula One. But next season is full of hope; we have turned the page and the future is ahead of us. The strategy is well underway, the choice of drivers is close and the technical changes being overseen by Bob [Bell] for the chassis and Rob [White] for the engine are promising. The sponsors are coming back and even though we are disappointed with our performance in the final race of the season, we know that changes are underway and we are confident for the future. The team is united and full of optimism."

Bob Bell, Team Principal
"In terms of performance it was a disappointing race for us. Going into the weekend, we had slightly higher expectations, but in the end we just didn't have the pace. In terms of the event itself, it has been fantastic and Abu Dhabi deserves real credit for providing the facilities and for staging a great event, which has been great for Formula One. As a team we are obviously disappointed as we had hoped to end the season on a high, but we are upbeat for next year. We will move on from here and will be back fighting next year."

Remi Taffin, Head of Engine Operations
"The story of the year overall is that we have not been competitive enough. Today's race was difficult again and unfortunately we couldn't fight for points. In terms of the engines, we have not had any issues this year but we are missing overall performance with the car. We will work hard over the winter to come back stronger in 2010."

Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 2:28 pm
by Ed
Renault F1 Team begins young driver test in Jerez - 1 DEC 2009

The Renault F1 Team returned to action this week for the first of three days of young driver testing in Jerez in the south of Spain. Belgian driver, Bertrand Baguette, began the team's programme with a full day in the car as his prize for winning the World Series by Renault 3.5 category earlier this season.

The programme today focussed mainly on evaluating Bertrand, but the team also tried some new development items in preparation for 2010. The 23-year-old covered 105 laps behind the wheel of the R29 as he completed a trouble-free first day in an F1 car.

For tomorrow morning young Chinese driver, Ho-Pin Tung, will take over driving duties before handing the R29 over to the team's third driver, Lucas di Grassi, for the afternoon.

Bertrand Baguette: "This was my first time in an F1 car and I really enjoyed it. There's a huge difference between the F1 car and a World Series car, especially the efficiency of the brakes, which is incredible, and the speed you can carry through the quick corners. Also, it's a completely different world and I've been getting used to working with five or six engineers instead of just one. We started the day with a long run so that I could get used to the car and then we started the technical programme as I worked on improving the set-up of the car. It was an amazing experience for me and I hope to do this again in the future."

Alan Permane, Chief Race Engineer: "It was a good day for Bertrand and he quickly got used to the car and the systems. To begin with we spent a bit of time adjusting the set-up to make him more comfortable in the car, but he suffered a bit with understeer throughout the day. However, he was very focussed, sensible and didn't make any mistakes as he steadily improved his lap times. He reacted well to the changes we made to the car and worked well with the engineers by giving good feedback. Overall it has been a positive day for us and of course for Bertrand who had his first experience of driving an F1 car."

Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 2:28 pm
by Ed
Renault F1 Team continues young driver test in Jerez - 2 DEC 2009

The Renault F1 Team completed a second day of young driver testing in Jerez today with young Chinese driver, Ho-Pin Tung, and the team's third driver, Lucas Di Grassi, sharing driving duties.

Ho-Pin Tung spent the morning in the car as he sampled the R29 for the first time. The 26-year-old covered a total of 67 laps during a busy morning as he continued to evaluate new parts for the team ahead of the 2010 season.

In the afternoon Lucas Di Grassi took over the cockpit of the R29 and went on to complete a further 54 laps.

Ho-Pin Tung: "This was my first proper test in an F1 car and it was a great experience. To begin with I concentrated on finding a reasonable set-up and then got down to working through the programme with the engineers as we tested some parts for the 2010 car. The morning went by so quickly, but it was good to cover 67 laps and the track really improved throughout the morning. What impressed me most was the speed you can carry through the corners and the braking performance of these cars, which takes some getting used to. I learnt a lot today and really enjoyed working with the whole team. I will stay here tomorrow so that I can sit in on all the debriefs and continue learning."

Lucas Di Grassi: "It was a productive day and good for me to get back in a current F1 car for the first time in almost a year. It felt quite different to drive this car with slicks but I quickly got used to it and the systems on the car. Our programme was focussed on looking ahead to 2010 so we were running with high fuel loads and doing quite long runs. The track conditions were not too bad, but I think it will be even better tomorrow so we should be able to complete some more important work."

Alan Permane, Chief Race Engineer: "We ran Ho-Pin for the first half of the day, starting off on scrubbed tyres before giving him a couple of new sets later in the morning. I was impressed with Ho-Pin as he settled into the car very quickly and worked well with the team. His driving style is quite well suited to an F1 car as he used the tyres well, had a good feel for the car and gave us precise feedback. The afternoon was mainly about getting Lucas comfortable in the car ahead of his full day tomorrow as this was his first time in the R29. Overall, we managed to complete our objectives for the day and we're well prepared for another productive day tomorrow."

Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 4:03 pm
by Ed
Renault F1 Team completes Jerez test with Lucas Di Grassi - 3 DEC 2009

The Renault F1 Team completed its final day of testing in Jerez as third driver Lucas Di Grassi covered 123 laps behind the wheel of the R29. Ho-Pin Tung also had the chance to drive a handful of extra laps in the damp conditions, adding to the 67 laps he completed yesterday.

Conditions were overcast for the morning with a light rain shower just before lunch leaving the track damp for the middle part of the day. However, conditions improved in the afternoon, allowing Lucas to complete the team's technical programme. The priority for the day was to continue evaluating developments for 2010 and to add mileage to new components.

Lucas Di Grassi: "Today was a busy day and I completed over 120 laps. We did lots of different things including some performance work, some long stints and simulations for 2010. It was good for me to get back in an F1 car and the programme over the last couple of days has given me a lot of valuable experience. We managed to complete the most important tasks for the week and hopefully everything we have learnt will help with the development of next year's car."

Alan Permane, Chief Race Engineer: "We had a productive day of testing with Lucas with the programme based around preparation for next year. We ran the car quite heavy in the morning as we did some work on the brakes and then in the afternoon we completed some back-to-back testing on the front and rear suspension. While the track was damp we put Ho-Pin back in the car to give him the chance to experience an F1 car in wet conditions. Overall it has been a successful week for us: the team has worked hard and we've come away with a lot of valuable data which will be useful for the development of next year's car."