Massive boost to put things right - Fisichella
The Renault F1 Team announced last week that Giancarlo Fisichella will stay with the team in 2007 and this is a big boost for the Roman to score in Canada. Fisichella was on the podium 4 times at Montreal but never on the top step. This is something the Italian wants to change this weekend.
"Of course, it’s a massive boost. It is fantastic to be staying with a team that will be fighting for the world championship next year – and to be able to build upon the experience I have had here in 2005 and 2006. At the moment, though, my focus is on the next race. I have had some strong races recently, but the results have not quite been there for me, so I want to put things right in Canada."
It was one of the team’s strongest performances in 2005…"Yes it was – but also our worst result of the season. We had a strong package there in 2005, and I was leading the race when I retired. I have a great memory of the first part of that race, and I want to carry on where I left off last year – at the front of the field. The Renault package should be very strong in Canada, and we want to be fighting for the win."
Tell us about the demands of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve…"It is a difficult circuit. The downforce levels are low, which makes the car delicate to drive, and you have to be very precise on the chicanes: you don’t have the grip to recover from a mistake if you get the wrong line. So you need to find the right balance between being aggressive and driving smoothly. I have always really enjoyed the challenge of this circuit."
So it’s a question of touch, of feeling as well as scientific engineering?"Exactly. On Friday, we know it is low grip – but you need to get out on the track, to try the limits and get a good feeling with the car. A little bit like the way we run in Monaco. Obviously, the circuit is very slippery then and it’s easy to make a mistake, but the grip improves all the way through the weekend. The important thing is to have the feeling with the track."
History shows you have had that “feeling” in past years. What’s the objective for this race?"Well, I have been on the podium four times in Canada – twice in third, and twice in second. So there’s only one place missing from my record… I think we can go to Canada and be confident of fighting for the win. We need a clean weekend of course, to get maximum track time and make sure there are no problems in practice or qually. But if we get that, then I will be aiming to make it five podiums in Canada – and to do it from the top step of the podium."
Source Renaultf1
