A disappointing great race - Fisico

A good race for Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella after a very disappointing start. Giancarlo's engine stalled on the grid. The Italian finished fifth in Sunday's Australian Grand Prix – after an heroic performance against the odds. Here’s why…

"It was a really busy afternoon for me! I am pleased with the result, because it was a spectacular way to finish the race with Jenson blowing up, and I went all the way from the back to fifth. But I also had some problems that meant I couldn’t show the true performance of the car. Without them, I could have been fighting for the win with Fernando."

"The engine stalled on the grid, I had telemetry failure in the first stint and then the clutch failed at the end. In the middle of the race, I was suffering from really big understeer too and didn’t have the pace."

"Yes, they have the overall view of the race and it was an important period for my strategy. I was on the limit all the way, but the balance just wasn’t right and we had really big understeer."

"Once we had got round the clutch failure, I could start to push and it didn’t take many laps to catch Jenson. I started to put the pressure on him, and he had to respond… I am not saying we directly made his engine blow, but we put him in a difficult position."

"It was really close for the last two laps, and then I started to see some smoke from his engine in the final corners. In the last corner, it became a fog mixed with fluid and I couldn’t see anything. It was really slippery and I had some big oversteer, but Jenson pulled over and I was able to pass him before the line."

You go to Imola second in the championship… "Yes, it’s a strong position for me. We know we have the right package to fight for wins. Fernando already has a good advantage in the points, but I will keep on pushing."

"Absolutely. I wanted to be in a good championship position when I arrived there, and I am. Plus, I have a fresh engine, and hopefully it will be a new specification too. That would be a good bonus."