Renault chief reflects on two mistakes

As reported on F1Racing.net When asked if he could start the season again, which mistakes he would avoid, Renault engineering director Pat Symonds replied, “I would make sure we redesigned the wheel nut mechanism before Budapest, not afterwards! And I would not have changed Fernando’s front tyres in China.” Atleast they won’t have a World [...]

Alonso: Constructors’ championship less important

As reported on F1Racing.net “For me the important thing is the Drivers’ championship, not only for me, for everybody,” Alonso said in Interlagos, Brazil. “We see all the publicity on the motorways, everywhere from China onwards. I think we only see Michael’s and Alonso’s face on the pictures. You don’t see the logo of Ferrari [...]

Schumacher to go out in ‘classic style’

As reported on autosport.com “There was a period I believe when Michael was wrestling with his (retirement) decision, but I think you saw his performance in China was classic Michael,” Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn told reporters at the Japanese Grand Prix. “If he can perform like that in the last two races it would [...]

Briatore clears the air with Alonso

As reported on autosport.com “I talked with Fernando and Fisichella yesterday,” said Briatore. “Sometimes we talk about frustration, pressure and this and that, it happens. But I don’t think there is any problem at all. Maybe it gives us some more motivation for this weekend.” “On Sunday, in China, I don’t think the (second) pitstop [...]

Bridgestone confident over rain tyres

As reported on autosport.com although Bridgestone decided against changing their original wet tyre plans for this weekend’s race in Suzuka as a result of what happened in China, the company’s technical manager Hisao Suganuma believes there will be no repeat of the dramas. “This track [Suzuka] is much more abrasive than Shanghai, and on that [...]

Renault reshuffle their pitstop crew

As reported on autosport.com Renault have reshuffled their pitstop crew for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix following the problem that marred Fernando Alonso’s second pitstop in China last weekend, autosport.com has learned. Although Renault’s director of engineering Pat Symonds said after the event that the pitstop problem was “one of those things”, the team have [...]

Ralf backs brother to title

As reported on autosport.com “Michael has the chance – he knows it,” Ralf told Reuters before Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix. “He missed it last year, and he’s desperate to win the title this year. From a package point of view, you have to say Ferrari are clearly stronger and Michael will be very focused. It [...]

Renault don’t want me to win UPDATE

As reported on SportingLife Fernando Alonso has sensationally accused Renault of sabotaging his title campaign by making intentional errors during the Chinese Grand Prix. “They wanted us to finish second and third because they do not want me to take the number ‘one’ to a different team,” Fernando Alonso told Spanish newspaper AS. “They are [...]

Ferrari warn Renault about dirty tactics

As reported on HomeofSport As teammates Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella tried to keep Michael Schumacher behind them on the Shanghai circuit last Sunday, they resorted to driving side-by-side down the straights in an apparently elaborate and dubious blocking technique. Ferrari boss Jean Todt observed: “We have learned from what our rivals did. We now [...]

Ferrari, Renault Trade Verbal Jabs

As reported on FeedMeF1 In the lead-up to Shanghai, Renault’s technical chief Pat Symonds mused that he would put money on Fernando Alonso reacting better than Michael Schumacher to the pressure of a close duel. And, referring to Schumacher’s imminent retirement, he added: “I think the pressure for him is greater than ever.” “(Symonds) said [...]