The Renault F1 Team's Technical Director, Bob Bell, looks back on the team's outstanding performance in Fuji: another Grand Prix victory for Fernando Alonso following his Singapore success and a fourth-place finish for Nelson Piquet at the conclusion of the Japanese round.
Bob, the Renault F1 Team won its second consecutive race. You must be delighted?
"Totally. Fernando and Nelson had magnificent races and their results had nothing to do with luck. We've now confirmed the progress made with the R28 since the start of the season and our two victories are a testament to the work carried out at the factory and the track - a fantastic reward for the whole team.
How do you explain the team's return to form?
"It's a combination of several factors. First of all, we have placed great emphasis on constantly developing our car and we have taken several new parts to each race this season. For example, in Singapore the new front wing worked perfectly and we also have a much better understanding of the chassis and how to extract its maximum potential. The result of this progress is that the drivers have more confidence in the car and can now go and find that extra bit of performance that makes the difference."
Where is the R28 in comparison with the rest of the competition today?
"I think we are still behind Ferrari and McLaren in terms of pure performance, but on the other hand, we now have an advantage over BMW. In race conditions we are closer to the level of the leaders as we are better at managing the use of the tyres and so we are close to achieving our double objective: finishing the season in fourth place with the third-fastest car.
You talk about the use of the tyres in race conditions - this wasn't a strong point of the R28 at the start of the season?
"That's true, but we've been able to reverse that tendency."
How have you done that?
"First of all it's down to the improvements we've made to the R28 - aerodynamic as well as mechanical. Once you make the car more competitive, the less your drivers need to overdrive and so the car slides less and gives them better control over the wear of the tyres."
What have been the biggest development steps on the R28?
"The biggest step was in Barcelona where we had entirely new bodywork: both wings and an engine cover almost entirely revised. Then we continued to bring developments to each race. Today none of the R28's bodywork is the same as it was at the start of the season.
Is this process going to continue?
"Instead of relying on new parts, we are going to concentrate on extracting 100% of the performance capability in the car. However, if we find something along the way, and if we have the manufacturing time available, then we will adapt the car."
But surely it's impossible to take something from the 2009 programme and use it on this year's car?
"That's a big problem for all the teams. Obviously we have started next year's programme, but the rules are so different that there is little to transfer in terms of improvements for this year's car."
The CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) Centre is already operational - is it entirely dedicated to the R29?
"At the moment, yes. However, to begin with we did some work on the R28. The brake ducts used in Monza, for example, were developed in our new facility."
Finally, do you think it will be possible to deliver a similar performance in Shanghai next week?
"On paper, we are not the favourites, but Fernando has proved recently that anything is possible. In any case, we will approach this race aiming for a win, that's for sure."
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.
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