2006 Japanese GP, Saturday - 7 OCT 2006
The Renault F1 Team qualified fifth and sixth for tomorrow's
Japanese Grand Prix this afternoon in Suzuka, with World Champion
Fernando Alonso ahead of his team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella.
The two drivers qualified within three tenths of each other,
a small margin that demonstrates both drivers got the maximum
from the R26 package on this demanding circuit.
However, the two Renaults will line up behind both Ferraris
– their direct championship rivals – and the Toyota
team on row two. While this position translates a substantial
deficit in first lap performance, the team hopes that the
consistency of the Michelin tyres will pay in tomorrow's race,
and allow them to fight on equal terms as race strategies
play out.
FA
Part One: 1:30.976
Part Two: 1:30.357
Super Pole: 1:30.371
GF
Part One1: 31.696
Part Two1: 30.306
Super Pole: 1:30.599
Fernando Alonso, 5th position
In the context of the characteristics we have seen today,
this result is OK I think. We more or less knew that qualifying
would be difficult for us after this morning's practice session,
because we didn't have enough pace on one lap. We have done
the maximum though, and I am the leading Michelin car –
with Fisi right alongside me. The car feels good to drive
round here, so now we have to believe in the Michelin tyres
and their consistency in the race. Of course, the position
is not ideal for the championship fight – but we have
seen big turnarounds already this season. There is nothing
to say it cannot happen again tomorrow.
Giancarlo Fisichella, 6th position
We did all we could this afternoon in qualifying, we just
needed more pace on one lap. The grip levels were not fantastic,
which meant that the balance was a bit inconsistent –
some high-speed understeer and nervousness in slow corners.
But as the grip improves, that will calm down, and we know
that the R26 will be consistent for the whole race distance.
The main thing is that in spite of a difficult day, we are
not giving up. Fernando and I will be pushing really hard
tomorrow.
Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering
We often say that relative performance is what matters in
Formula 1, and that has surprised us today. While we can draw
some consolation from being the fastest Michelin runners,
that thought does not help in the battle with our main rivals
Ferrari. In yesterday's low temperatures we looked competitive,
and things have become more difficult as track temperatures
rose some ten degrees today. Certainly the grid suggests that
these higher temperatures were not perfectly suited to our
tyre over one lap, but it should be borne in mind that qualifying
is just a means to an end. The key to success in tomorrow's
race will be finding the right balance between aggression
and damage limitation, and we are hopeful that our tyres will
bring us the consistency we need in the race.
Denis Chevrier, Head of Trackside Engine Operations
The only real source of satisfaction after today's qualifying
session is to see our drivers line up alongside each other,
as the leading Michelin contenders. The performance of some
of our usual rivals showed that this was not an easy qualifying
session to come through unscathed, and we have certainly achieved
our realistic maximum today in these conditions: we thought
we would end up on the third row, and we have achieved just
that. From a championship point of view, the Toyotas on row
two make our life harder – and mean that the start will
one of the key moments in tomorrow's race. Now, the important
thing will be to not write off the Grand Prix before it has
been run. This season has already shown us how quickly the
balance of power can swing from one day to the next over a
Grand Prix weekend, and we will have to hope that our deficit
in first lap performance is transformed into an advantage
in terms of consistency. On the engine side, both RS26 V8
engines have performed faultlessly, and they will provide
our drivers with the usual blend of driveability and performance
throughout the race.
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