Ready to rumble

After the first win of the season, the Renault F1 Team is flying to Malaysia with a very good feeling. This weekend, the second Grand Prix of the season will shake down on the Sepang International Circuit. Both Alonso and Fisichella have high expectations for this weekend and feel very confident!

Fernando Alonso "Traditionally this is a strong track for Renault."

Fernando, that was a great start to the season in Bahrain…
"Yes, it was the perfect way to begin the year I think. We had a very exciting race for the spectators, and I think we can expect a very interesting start to the season. As we thought from testing, there are four teams fighting to win at any type of circuit – Honda, McLaren, Ferrari and Renault. We can all win races, so it will be a fun time in the coming weeks."

What about the circuit in Sepang? It has always been a special place for you…
"Sepang has always been one of my favourite driver's circuits, and I seem to have important moments of my career there too – my first pole and podium in 2003, and the first win of my championship in 2005. I am arriving on the back of a win, at a super circuit, so I am very happy and hopefully we can win again. Traditionally, this is a strong track for Renault.

Finally, let's talk tyre performance. Michelin seemed to narrowly have the edge in Bahrain…
"I think the tyres should be ready. Michelin have done a fantastic job with the new rules, and the high temperatures are not a problem at all. I think they have the tyres to win again in Malaysia."

Giancarlo Fisichella "Sepang will suit the strong points of the R26."

Giancarlo, what are the physical demands of the race in Malaysia?
"I think this is the toughest track physically, but also mentally because we need to maintain our concentration on a very demanding circuit in terms of driving, and in the heat. I am prepared, and in good physical condition, so it won't be a problem but for sure, we will see who is fit during this race. Malaysia is one of the best circuits I think, the atmosphere is good, and I really enjoy it.

What are the demands of the circuit in terms of the car?
"I call it a complete circuit. You have everything to make a very challenging circuit in Malaysia. There are many different types of corners. You have high-speed, low-speed hairpins, and it is all good fun to drive."

How are you feeling after the disappointment of retirement in Bahrain?
"I am very positive. Last year, I won the first race then had a difficult season. This year, I hope it will be the other way round – a bad race then a lot of good results! I will have a fresh engine in Malaysia, and we know that it was not a problem with the V8 itself. My approach will be the same: to try and go for the win. I think the Sepang circuit will suit our strong points with the R26, maybe more than Bahrain. It has all the characteristics we believe suit our package."

Denis Chevrier, Head of Trackside Engine Operations "There are four potential favourites. Expect an exciting battle in Malaysia."

Denis, we are one race into the season. Can you begin drawing any conclusions about the relative performance of Renault and the competition?
"We saw the first demonstration of the teams' true performance last Sunday, and it was immediately clear that the situation is highly competitive. A number of teams are quick on a single lap, able to maintain that speed in race conditions and, as we saw from Raikkonen, capable of running a different strategy and making it work. At
Renault, we are pleased to be within that group, but the performance differentials are very small."

What was your impression of the state of play with the new V8 engines?
"Before the season, there were some thoughts that the new regulations might be the opportunity for one manufacturer to take a decisive advantage, and that does not seem to have happened. It is a little early to judge reliability with any certainty, but it was initially very good. The changes have seen the cards shuffled a little, with Ferrari jumping back to the front, Honda very quick and Renault and McLaren maintaining their performance. There are four potential favourites, so we can expect an exciting battle in Malaysia."

You seem excited at the prospect of the next race…
"Well, if Formula 1 was a wine, you could say we were in for a good vintage! I think we will see the points being shared widely this year, and in that environment, any weakness will be punished severely. We will need to have two cars performing at the highest level, and to maintain our levels of quality. In modern F1, quality means the combination of reliability and the ability to develop performance throughout the year. We did it in 2005. In 2006, we have a sound basis from which to work."

What happened to Fisico last weekend?
"We do not yet know the exact cause of the problem but with a power deficit of around 50 bhp, he drove a very impressive race. It is important to say the problem was not with the engine itself, rather with a peripheral component that led to a problem with how the engine was operating. In order to make a proper diagnosis in the best conditions, we have sent the engine back to Viry to be dyno tested this week with some very high performance diagnostic tools. As the rules allow following retirement, Giancarlo will use a fresh engine in Bahrain."

What about Fernando's engine? After one hot race, is the prospect of another in quick succession a worry?
"In actual fact, Bahrain was not as hot as expected, with ambient temperatures around 25°C. We will see higher values than that during the European summer. From that perspective, the hot race is still to come. However, Fernando ran a normal weekend and stayed within the engine's allocated performance potential throughout the Bahrain weekend."

What about the challenges of Sepang for the engine?
"They have increased in severity relative to last year. The nature of the circuit layout, with the high speed corners, means the drivers will spend 15% more time at full throttle than last year. It will be a demanding weekend for the V8, and at its conclusion, we will have a much better idea of how things stand for the first iteration of the V8 engines in terms of performance and reliability."