Malaysian GP, Sunday - 19 MAR 2006
The 2006 Malaysian GP was an historic race for the Renault
F1 Team, as drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Fernando Alonso
took the team's first ever one-two since Renault returned
to the sport as a works manufacturer in the 2002 season, and
only the second one-two finish in Renault's Formula One history,
the last occasion being at the 1982 French Grand Prix.
Giancarlo Fisichella bounced back in style from a disappointing
retirement in the Bahraini Grand Prix seven days ago, controlling
the Malaysian Grand Prix from start to finish. Running a two-stop
strategy, the Italian made a perfect start from pole position
and did not put a foot wrong all afternoon. He pitted on laps
19 and 38, and ran an otherwise untroubled race as his R26
car and RS26 V8 engine did not miss a beat.
Fernando Alonso started from a lowly seventh position after
problems in qualifying, but much of the disadvantage had been
eradicated by the time he reached turn two. A lightning start,
and a daring outside pass on both Williams drivers under braking
into the first corner, meant the Spaniard emerged from the
opening corners in third position. After holding off the lighter
Williams of Mark Webber during the opening laps, and conserving
his tyres for what would be a very long first stint, the Spaniard
began to show the true pace of the R26. His two-stop strategy
saw him visit the pits on laps 26 and 43, as he vaulted ahead
of Jenson Button's Honda into second position, which he held
comfortably to the flag.
The Renault F1 Team leads the Constructors' Championship
with 28 points from the opening two races. Fernando Alonso
heads the Drivers' Championship on 18 points, while Giancarlo
Fisichella is fourth on 10 points. The RS26 V8 engine has
also taken both race wins under the new V8 regulations, and
Fernando Alonso's engine completed its first two-race life
with a total of 18 points scored from a possible 20.
Giancarlo Fisichella, Winner
It was a perfect race for me, but it was very tough physically
and mentally. It was really, really hot out there and I began
to feel it from mid-race onwards. I knew it would be hard
but there was no choice but to push all the way to the end.
So I did. I didn't want to lose concentration in the last
laps, and everything went well, the car and engine were perfect
too. I am really so happy for this win. And I am especially
pleased because I am dedicating the win to a friend who died
last week, Pietro. To have my race engineer Alan Permane on
the podium alongside me was special too. Thank you to the
whole team, this is a brilliant result.
Fernando Alonso, 2nd position
From my point of view, I think things could have been different
without the problems in qualifying, but today was about making
everything we could from P7 on the grid, and I think we did
that. I got a great start, and managed to brake late into
turn 1 to get the Williams round the outside. I knew Webber
was lighter than me, and would have let him go if he had tried
to pass, but we had the speed in spite of the heavy fuel load.
After that, it was just a question of pushing and letting
the strategy work itself out. I have a special feeling for
this circuit, it is a fantastic track, and it has always been
good to me. I am very pleased to have 18 points out of a possible
20 after only two races, and we are really looking forward
to Melbourne.
Flavio Briatore, Managing Director
This was a fantastic performance from the whole Renault team.
Every single member of our team put in an exceptional performance
today. Fisico and Fernando were fantastic. Giancarlo controlled
the race, and Fernando amazed us at the start. The car was
so heavy, that to do what he did into turn 1 was something
special. I think this performance shows that we interpreted
the rules for 2006, with the new V8 engines, in the right
way. We have a great group of people, and everybody is pushing
in the same direction. I am very happy for the whole Renault
Group today, and they should be proud to have an incredible
team like this one.
Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering
We had a fantastic amount of success last season, but the
one-two finish eluded us throughout 2005. It is the ultimate
team prize, and we are delighted to have achieved it today.
What a fantastic result this was for Giancarlo. We saw yesterday
that he has real strength of character, as he bounced back
from a disappointing weekend in Bahrain, and this just reinforces
that. It was a controlling and compelling performance. It
is important not to forget Fernando, who was disadvantaged
in qualifying by a team problem. He fought through the field
to make the most of his race, as he always does. This is a
team result, and belongs to every single person at Enstone
and Viry.
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