Fisico was pushing hard - Symonds

Pat Symonds has attempted to lift the pressure on Giancarlo Fisichella after the Italian lost victory in Japan to Kimi Raikkonen in the last lap of the race at Suzuka. With Team Boss Flavio Briatore choosing to divert his anger at the race stewards over the Fernando Alonso/Christian Klien incident, Symonds' endorsement of his effort should help to alleviate the despondency Fisico showed on the podium.

The Italian, no doubt, was aware that he had halved Renault's potential Constructors' Championship lead heading to the final round in China this weekend. The disappointment in the Renault box was genuine and deeply felt, but hidden beneath it all was the knowledge that the regie had benefited from similar disappointment in the McLaren garage, as Alonso inherited a last lap win from Raikkonen at Nurburgrin earlier this year. This team it was Renault's turn to feel the defeat, but Renault stays optimistical.

Pat Symonds "It was difficult to see Giancarlo lose the lead on the final lap, but we know he was pushing all the way. Indeed, the rhythm of his race may have had something to do with the lack of grip he reported towards the end, because he had been pushing from the opening laps and putting a lot of energy through his tyres. Fernando and Kimi both were able to look after their tyres at various points when they were following slower cars, but Giancarlo never had that luxury. That could have made quite a difference…
I think we can take heart from the pace the car has shown today. It was a race where traffic played a big part but, even so, the table of fastest laps is revealing. It shows Fernando and Kimi separated by very little indeed, and that is promising for China."