Renault's Technical Director, Bob Bell, looks back on the team's victory in Singapore. The result moves Renault clear of rivals Toyota by five points in the battle for fourth position overall.
Bob, luck undoubtedly played its part in the team's victory in Singapore, but Fernando produced a brilliant tactical drive. What was your verdict on his performance?
"For me it was the Fernando of old - he never gave up and when the time came to really push hard to gain an advantage he did so and brought home the maximum points. There was certainly an element of luck with the safety car, but Fernando had been on it all weekend and after the second safety car he pulled out an immediate gap over Rosberg and Hamilton, which confirmed the pace of the car and what an outstanding job he did."
The gamble of an aggressive strategy certainly paid off...
"When you're picking a strategy much of it comes down to assessing the probability of events during a race. The most likely thing to happen in Singapore was for there to be a safety car because it was a street circuit with some difficult corners. We were starting in 15th and 16th and so we had to try something different with the strategy because we had little to lose and wanted to be able to benefit from any safety car periods. As a team, we don't necessarily follow set paths; we like to be daring when opportunities allow and that's what being a good racing team is all about. I think the race in Singapore was a good example of that."
You spoke to Fernando after the race. What did this victory mean to him?
"He was absolutely thrilled to bits. He's a racer and he wants to win races and so to come away as the winner of the inaugural night race in Singapore is something special and something that will always be remembered. He was very pleased for the team as well and I think it showed him that we still have the potential to go out and win races. He saw us return to the sort of form that we used to enjoy and that meant as much to him as the victory itself."
Why was the R28 so competitive in Singapore?
"I think it was down to a combination of reasons, one of which was the new venue and the fact that Fernando and the team are both very good at dealing with new challenges. The team arrived in Singapore well prepared, which helped us get the best out of the car; we had an aerodynamic upgrade and we operated it differently in terms of set-up, which gained us a bit of performance. So it was just a step forward in all areas, which culminated in us having a car that really suited the track and the conditions."
What does this result mean for the team and for morale?
"It's very important because this team has been through a very difficult period since the championship years of 2005 and 2006. We needed to bounce back and regain our self-confidence and demonstrate that as a team we could still produce a competitive car and win races. We've done that and the result has lifted everybody's morale for the final three races, but more importantly renewed our self-belief, which is so important for next year."
Comment 7 - 26 of 26
Even if you have a F1 'police' car, who are you going to put on the driver seat. The best drivers are driving in front of you and 'trying' to get away...
Will there be a 'police' clad F1 car pulling over drivers without a license?
at the end of your driving test.
"Since you only got 1 minor that'll be £200, just think if you'd been an inch further from the kerb on your reverse park you could have had it down to £175."
How do you think you'd have felt if your examiner had said to you
The license fee should be a straight forward fee.
On the other side however, why should they pay more for being more successful?
On one side you have drivers earning up to $20 million a year bemoaning the fact they have to pay 1% of that to race. They still get to keep 99% of it, or 50% or depending on the tax in their home nation. That still means they'll earn more in a year than I will probably see in my life time. I'd find it hard to feel sympathetic at the best of times, but in the current economic climate the only thing that springs to mind is "greedy f**kers"
I'm not quite sure which side I want to take in this argument.
Why have they resurrected a 3 month old thread?
I dislike Alonso, but right now he's showing he's the best in Formula 1.
Where in the world is it written or said that Hamilton is not welcome as a champion? Even his most ardent supporters among previous great F1 racers like Jackie Stewart are questioning his behaviour and his performance. McLaren has invested huge time and money to make him a champion. He's got a top car, much faster than Kovalainen's. What else does he need to deliver? The truth is he's just your ordinary good racer, period. A Champion? NO WAY!
Rav A
I'm no Hamilton lover but there was only one episode of "outrageous" behaviour from LH on Sunday and at least 4 fro the FIArrari team.
Amazing comments from chauvinistic dudes like Sir r.I.milligan. Hamilton lovers cannot stand it that the Kid gets penalized for his outrageous behaviour. Hey, if you stop watching F1, nobody's going to miss you. If you stop posting your stupid comments, that will be even better. Get lost.
I agree as well Mr Milligan. I too have followed it from the early 70's and its had its up and downs but the last two seasons have just been too much.
I think the teams need to get a grip of the sport, take the power over the venues away from the commercial rights holders, and appoint some sort of independant body to oversee the regs. I know the FIA are meant to do that but they clearly aren't up to it.
However for this to happen they all have to agree and whilst one team is happy with the situation thats not likely to happen.
matt_j_dixon
Happens all the time - Yahoo! blatantly frig about with everything on here. Disallowing posts, cutting and pasting posts from other articles, writing deliberately contentious articles to get some traffic through the boards (which generates added income for them as they are paid per 'hit' by their advertisers)The only reason I post is to have a bit of sport with the Ferrari deadheads
Unless it is really blattant, I think stewards should never assess these penalties. I am no expert, but it seemed like everything in Japan was more what they call a racing incident. Nothing you could say with certainty was intentional. Drivers are not perfect and drivers trying to win will do these things. If a driver is really doing something so stupid or intentional, the other drivers will eventually find a way to make their point. Let the drivers settle these things their ways. Any of you see the replays of the US ARCA/REMAX race with old Scott Speed? That was a bit more extreme than I hope is necessary.
Unless it is really blattant, I think stewards should never assess these penalties. I am no expert, but it seemed like everything in Japan was more what they call a racing incident. Nothing you could say with certainty was intentional. Drivers are not perfect and drivers trying to win will do these things. If a driver is really doing something so stupid or intentional, the other drivers will eventually find a way to make their point. Let the drivers settle these things their ways. Any of you see the replays of the US ARCA/REMAX race with old Scott Speed? That was a bit more extreme than I hope is necessary.
by making a few speeling misstakes i dont git Invalid comment. odd
r.l.milligan. wall siad, I dont went to belive it could be happening, but I have to agree with you, it is looking that way, like you I have been folling F1 from 1976, and i have never seen anything like this before.
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account