Very close season - Symonds

The Renault F1 Team’s Executive Director of Engineering was a guest at the official FIA Press Conference this afternoon. Pat Symonds fielded questions from the international press at the official media conference this afternoon at Albert Park.

The Renault F1 Team’s Executive Director of Engineering spoke first of the team’s encouraging start to the season. “It has been ideal, but we’re not slacking off in any area,” he explained. “I think this will be a much more difficult season than in 2005. Last year, the battle for the title was between Renault and McLaren. Now, those teams have been joined by Honda, Ferrari and even Williams. It is going to be a very open, hard-fought season, I am sure.”

In Pat’s eyes, the R26 will allow the team to defend its titles. “We have been very encouraged by our start to the season,” he continued. “The R26 has maintained all of the strong points from the R25, and improved some other areas. We are very optimistic.”

Finally, discussing the current qualifying format, Symonds recommended some small changes. “I think we can improve the qualifying format even further,” he explained. “After the last race in Malaysia, I had the chance to watch the qualifying session on television, and I felt there was room for improvement. From the pit-wall, you really don’t get a feel for the show because there is so much to do. But watching with some commentary, I think we can tweak the final part of qualifying. The first ten minutes of the third section have very limited interest: the cars are just going round in circles to burn fuel…”