Preview, Spanish GP 2006
The Renault F1 Team Preview for the 2006 Spanish
GP.
Fernando Alonso: Barcelona is unique in the whole
championship
Fernando, what's your verdict on the race in the
Nürburgring?
FA: I am very happy. You know, when you are fighting for the
victory and get pole position, then of course you want to
win as well. But we did a good job. Our performance was not
as strong as we hoped, and even with that, we got eight points.
So for sure, when everything is OK during the race weekend,
then we can win more races.
Barcelona will have a record, sell-out crowd of 130,000
people on Sunday. You must be looking forward to it?
FA: Of course, yes. It is a very special feeling for me to
be at my home Grand Prix, it is something unique in the whole
championship. It can be a bit stressful too, but the main
emotion for me is that I really enjoy the whole weekend, seeing
the fans from Wednesday and Thursday onwards. There are so
many of them, it is a shame we only have one race in Spain!
Inevitably, for a home race, people will wonder if
it brings more pressure. Does it?
FA: I think that pressure comes when you don't do your maximum,
then you have pressure in your head. In my case though, I
always do the maximum, in a test or a race, at Barcelona or
any other track. If I am doing the maximum, then I don't have
pressure. As soon as the visor goes down and the race starts,
it really doesn't matter at all.
Will the Renault be strong at the Circuit de Catalunya?
FA: I think we are always good there. It is an aero circuit,
which is good for Renault, and the team was on the podium
every time in the last three years. We saw in Germany that
the car is competitive, but Ferrari were a little bit stronger.
The next races in Barcelona and Monaco will be dominated by
tyres I think and in the past years they were both Michelin
circuits. I think there are some good opportunities coming
up for us.
Finally, we don't want to tempt fate, but what would
a victory mean to you at your home race?
FA: Well, last year I think it was not quite so important
for me, because I was so focused on the championship and just
wanted to win races, it didn't matter which ones. This season
it is a bit different. Of course, I am fighting really hard
for the title. But now, it is true that if I have to pick
two or three races in the year I want to win, then Barcelona
is definitely one of them!
Giancarlo Fisichella: I am very confident for Barcelona!
What were your thoughts after the race in Barcelona?
GF: It was a difficult race, but we had a good strategy, the
team did a fantastic job during the pit-stops and I was very
aggressive – which got me up to sixth position. It is
still a frustrating result, but I have still scored important
points for the championship, for myself and the team.
In just five days' time you will be in Barcelona
for the Spanish Grand Prix. What are you expecting?
GF: Barcelona is a circuit we all know very well because we
do so much testing there, especially in the winter. I enjoy
the circuit a lot and I know the Renault will be quick there.
I am very optimistic for the race weekend, and I hope it will
be a bit easier than the last one!
How do you expect the Michelin tyres to perform?
GF: Barcelona is a very tough circuit for the tyres, as we
all know. The asphalt is quite abrasive and there are some
high speed corners that are hard for the tyres, like the last
two corners. But I know Michelin will bring good tyres for
this race. They know the circuit well and they are working
very hard. I am feeling very confident for Spain, we know
the Michelins will be quick!
The race sees massive support for your team-mate.
Does that have any downsides for you?
GF: No, the opposite in fact! The Spanish fans are always
really good with me, and give me a lot of support. Italy and
Spain have similar cultures, the people there are like brothers
for us I think! And it is always a big boost to see their
fantastic support for the whole Renault team!
Spanish GP Tech File
Barcelona is a circuit that every F1 team knows well as they
complete thousands of miles there in testing throughout the
season. The mix high-speed corners, a very long straight and
an abrasive track surface, makes the Circuit de Catalunya
a uniquely complete circuit. Finding the right set-up compromise
is always a tricky business at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Chassis
Aerodynamics: Aerodynamic efficiency is
always a key factor at this circuit. Barcelona offers every
type of corner in its layout, and the straights are invariably
preceded by quick corners. This means the team actually runs
quite high downforce levels, in spite of the long main straight,
as it is important to get good exit speed from these corners.
That, ultimately, is what conditions the car's speed on the
main straight. That means this a race where we use a high
downforce set-up.
Suspension: When we look at suspension settings,
we have to find the best compromise to give the drivers a
well-balanced, responsive car. This means we will use relative
stiff settings at the front of the car to get a good change
of direction, while the rear will be slightly softer in order
to get the best possible traction out of the slow corners.
Ride height is also an important parameter to consider –
generally we can run the car quite low, which allows optimum
aerodynamic performance.
Tyres: The Circuit de Catalunya is well
known for being a particularly tough circuit, particularly
because it includes so many long, high-speed corners. These
put the tyres under high loadings, and particularly the front
left tyre which has to work very hard in all the quick corners.
We will therefore pay particular attention to tyre degradation
when making our choice, and we may alter settings such as
camber angles to limit tyre wear if necessary.
Engine
Performance: Barcelona is not generally thought of as an
engine circuit as the engine is not under particular stress
at any point. There are relatively few hard accelerations
from low revs, and the main priority is for the power delivery
to be progressive and driveable in order to maintain the best
handling balance, and limit tyre wear. 69% of the lap is spent
at full throttle.
Gearbox: Given the length of the main straight
at this circuit, the choice of gear ratios is quite tricky.
In fact, for top gear we have to contend with possible over-revving
if the wind blows down the main straight, or if the driver
is in a competitor's slipstream. Similarly, a headwind can
cost performance. Choosing the final drive is an important
part of the work during the practice sessions.
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