Saturday: Renault is not very comfortable on this track
The team is not at the top of their form, but they more or less save their honor by having a driver in the top 10. It is Fernando Alonso, still a bit unwell, who delivers a superb second qualifying session. He secures his place in Q3 by a few hundredths against Heidfeld. With Vettel’s […]
The team is not at the top of their form, but they more or less save their honor by having a driver in the top 10. It is Fernando Alonso, still a bit unwell, who delivers a superb second qualifying session. He secures his place in Q3 by a few hundredths against Heidfeld. With Vettel’s penalty, the Spaniard is 9th on the grid.
However, this relatively good performance is completely overshadowed by Nelson Piquet’s debacle as he doesn’t even make it into Q2. He finishes in a modest 17th place just ahead of the Force India drivers and Buemi, considered the least performing on the grid.
Fernando Alonso – 14th and 9th (10th time):
« I no longer had a fever this morning, so I was in better shape. I expected to finish 5th or 6th, so I’m a bit disappointed with our performance. The car is better than in Australia, but it’s not fast enough. We’ll see if the KERS will play a role tomorrow. »
Nelson Piquet – 16th and 17th:
« This morning, we knew that the qualifying session would be difficult. However, it could have worked for me if I hadn’t pushed a little too hard on my flying lap. Towards the end of the lap, I lost three or four tenths, and that was it. I’m disappointed, of course, not to have taken advantage of the qualifying session. I have to think about something else now and focus on my race. »
Pat Symonds – Technical Director:
Track conditions: « The asphalt was a bit cooler than this morning due to the timing of the qualifications. We started Q1 at 40° and finished Q3 at 36°. The grip, however, remained consistent throughout the session. »
Performance: « It was difficult to get into the top 10 but we managed to do it with one car. The performance is not very good yet. »
Strategy and fuel load: « We decided to start with a lot of fuel for Fernando. If the weather turns stormy tomorrow, it will be an advantage. Our strategy depends on tomorrow’s weather. »
Predictions for the race: « It will be very difficult for us tomorrow. Even with a start at 5:00 p.m., temperatures will remain high and the atmosphere will be very humid. If rain does appear, it will be intense and the conditions will be extremely difficult. »
According to a press release from the Renault F1 Team
