A season finale in apotheosis for Renault

Renault saw its two drivers score points in the 2008 Chinese Grand Prix, with Fernando Alonso taking fourth place and Nelson Piquet eighth. Starting 4th and 10th on the grid, the two Renault drivers got off to a good start when the lights went out at 3 p.m. local time. After an exciting battle with Kovalainen, Fernando Alonso maintained his fourth place and opted for a first pit stop on lap 14. Nelson Piquet, meanwhile, solidified his position in the Top 10 during the first round of pit stops, demonstrating, like his teammate, good consistency and a very encouraging pace.

With a second stop on the 35th lap, the Iberian switched to soft tires and maintained his fourth place until the checkered flag. Meanwhile, the Brazilian secured the point for eighth place, allowing the team to secure fourth place in the Constructors’ World Championship.

Fernando Alonso, more than satisfied declared: « The fourth place is the best result we could aim for today, so I am fully satisfied. We had a good pace, close to that of the Ferraris, which is another source of satisfaction. We have now secured fourth place in the Constructors’ standings, which was our objective; we can therefore approach the next Grand Prix in Brazil calmly and make the most of this last race of the year! »

Nelson Piquet, about his 8th place in China, added: « I was in the rhythm again today. It was a tough race, but I’m happy with my performance. Of course, I would have liked to climb higher, but the final result is satisfying, with a point at stake, which allows the team to finally secure fourth place in the Constructors’ standings. »

Flavio Briatore, Renault General Director, explained the position of his team at the end of the season: « It’s a good race for us. We have confirmed our level of performance today; we are stronger than the BMWs and now very close to the Ferraris. Our result today allows us to secure fourth place in the Constructors’ standings and thus confirms our recent progress. »

According to a statement from the Renault F1 Team