Chinese GP,
The Renault F1 Team finished a dramatic Chinese Grand Prix
in second and third positions this afternoon in Shanghai.
Fernando Alonso's second place finish came after a race in
which the Spaniard dominated in both the wet and the dry.
However, two crucial periods of the race cost him vital track
time. The first came at the end of the stint when, after discussions
with Fernando and Michelin, the team chose to change the severely
worn front tyres only. As Fernando returned to the track,
he was unable to regain his previous level of performance
– and was rapidly caught by Giancarlo Fisichella and
Michael Schumacher behind. As a result of this he elected
to stop early for dry tyres and fuel to the finish on lap
35. However, a pit-stop problem when a wheel nut came loose
from the gun cost him vital seconds. The team is currently
investigating the origin of the problem. After the leaders
had stopped, he was 25 seconds behind with 15 laps to go.
Although he subsequently closed the deficit rapidly, time
ran out before he could catch leader Michael Schumacher.
As for team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella, he ran competitively
on the heaviest fuel load among the front-runners during the
opening stint, then led strongly through the middle stages
as the circuit dried and Fernando Alonso struggled. He changed
to dry tyres on lap 41, and eventually finished third behind
his team-mate.
This collective performance by both drivers means the Renault
F1 Team retakes the lead of the Constructors' Championship
from Ferrari by a single point, while Fernando Alonso lies
on equal points with Michael Schumacher, with two races remaining.
With the two drivers tied for the championship lead, a title
showdown in Brazil in three weeks' time is almost certain.
Fernando Alonso, 2nd position
This was a difficult race for the team because we lost a very
good opportunity today. I built up a good lead in the first
20 laps, but my front tyres were badly worn – and the
conditions were difficult as the track was drying very slowly.
We made the decision to change the fronts for a new pair,
and it was the wrong one – as we saw with Fisi and Michael,
who kept all four tyres on the car and were much quicker.
After that, the only thing we could do was go to dry tyres
as early as possible – and hope to catch up the time
to Michael. In the end, there were not enough laps left. So
it was a bad day, but this is a fantastic fight for the championship,
and I go to Japan feeling really confident. We had the quickest
car today, and we have two more good chances to win. I believe
we can do it.
Giancarlo Fisichella, 3rd position
This was a good race for me – and a good result for
myself and the team. Finishing third means I go ahead of Massa
in the drivers' championship, and the team is leading the
constructors' championship again. I started with the biggest
fuel load of any car at the front, so the first laps were
quite tough – but the conditions came to me really well
as the circuit dried. We kept the same set of tyres at the
stop, and I was able to be very competitive and pull away
from Michael. But when I came out on dry tyres, the track
was so slippery – and the tyres weren't at temperature
yet. I slid wide, and Michael got past. After that, we turned
the engine down to save it for Japan, and made sure of the
podium finish. After seeing how the car performed today, we
know that we have the performance to win both titles, beginning
next weekend in Japan.
Flavio Briatore, Managing Director
We are all very sorry for Fernando. He was simply fantastic
today, and dominated in both the wet and the dry. After a
performance like that, there is nothing more frustrating than
to see a win slip through your fingers. Giancarlo drove well
to be on the podium, and his points mean we go back ahead
in the constructors' championship. This evening, our main
feeling is frustration. Looking further ahead, though, we
had the quickest car today and both championships are equal.
We know we have the team and the performance to win.
Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering
We are making no excuses today. This is a race we should have
won, because the Renault and its Michelin tyres were dominant
in all conditions. The fact we did not do so is intensely
frustrating for the entire team. Fernando drove brilliantly
from the start, and as we approached the first stop, told
us on the radio that his front tyres were very badly worn.
In consultation with Fernando and Michelin, we decided to
change them – and leave the rears on. It soon became
clear that the track was drying quickly, and that the decision
had been the wrong one. As a result, we took the risk of stopping
very early to switch Fernando to dry tyres – in the
hope he would be able to gain time on the leaders. A delay
in that pit-stop cost us more time: we know that the nut fell
out of the wheel gun, but not yet why. Afterwards, Fernando
once again drove fantastically to close in on Michael, but
we simply ran out of laps. Giancarlo drove well at the critical
points of his race, and was unlucky to lose the lead after
his second stop – when he was caught out like many others
this afternoon by the slippery track while running a set of
dry tyres that were not yet up to temperature. His podium
finish, though, gave us the means to re-take the lead in the
constructors' championship, and that fact shows that we have
the performance to win both titles. The Michelin tyres were
superior in the wet and the dry today, and it was easy to
get the best out of the car in the changing conditions. We
now go to the final races with renewed confidence. Today showed
that the Renault is the fastest car out there. We fully intend
to make use of it in the final two races of what is proving
to be a thrilling title showdown.
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