Turkish GP – Alonso’s Goal: Continue to Progress

Fernando Alonso returns to the track two weeks after giving an entire nation hope at the Spanish Grand Prix. After very good practice sessions and a crazy qualifying with admittedly less fuel, all hopes were pinned on the Iberian. But a mechanical failure abruptly stopped him in his tracks.

Accompanied by a Piquet accident in the first laps of the race, the weekend ended very sadly for Renault. But the French team will have the opportunity to show in Turkey that they are indeed back…

Fernando, a bittersweet feeling after the Spanish Grand Prix. You still insisted on the progress the team showed during this race…

« Yes, we undoubtedly missed an opportunity to score important points, which would have been great for the team’s morale. We retired with both our cars, but the performance was there, we were in the rhythm, and I think that’s what we should take away from this weekend in Spain. For my home Grand Prix, I would have liked to finish and perhaps secure the fifth place, which was entirely feasible. »

Do you think the team will have the same level of performance in Turkey?

« We were clearly making progress from the beginning of the weekend in Barcelona and as I said, it’s thanks to the efforts of the whole team who have been working very hard for weeks to try to come back among the best. This is only a first step, we still have developments for the upcoming races and we have a very aggressive approach. I am convinced, even if it will undoubtedly not be easy, that we can now compete in great races again and as a driver, that’s what I want above all!

Do you appreciate the layout of Istanbul Park?

Yes, I find that it resembles some exceptional circuits like Spa, for example. The circuit is very wide and offers great opportunities for overtaking. There are also very unique turns, where you can’t see the exit, for example. It’s very different from what we’re used to seeing. I’m thinking in particular of turn number 8, which is a very long left where we take more than 4G laterally. It’s a fun circuit where I hope to enjoy myself!

The Turkish Grand Prix usually takes place in the summer. It will be held earlier this year, do you think the track conditions will therefore be very different?

« The conditions might be slightly different, especially in terms of temperatures, but they will be the same for all teams, and it will then be a matter of making the most of Friday’s testing to find the best setup solutions. It’s not something that worries me; we have worked in very hot and also cooler track conditions. That’s also what makes the setup work interesting!

*According to a Renault F1 press release*