Keep on winning and increase our lead - Alonso
The F1 circus moves back to Europe this weekend. The Renault F1 Team is looking forward to their home Grand Prix at Magny-Cours. World Champion Fernando Alonso arrives at Magny-Cours with a lead of 19 points in the Championship.
"It has been better than we expected at the beginning of the year! With all the new rules for 2006, we were a little bit worried about starting the season with a brand new car, and a brand new V8 engine. The team did a fantastic job over the winter though, and when we got to the race we were 100% ready. That’s what allowed us to have such a good start to the year."
Looking to the French Grand Prix, you are the defending race winner. What are your memories from last year?"It was a fantastic race last year, one of the best for me. McLaren were really strong during that part of the season and we won the French Grand Prix because we deserved it. It was a perfect race, with a fantastic atmosphere. The crowd was excited, and I was too. I was very proud to win that race."
Yourself and the Renault F1 Team have three home races in effect – in Spain, Great Britain and France. You have won the other two this season… are you looking for a hat trick?"For sure. I think that from my point of view, in the paddock, with the fans, this is actually quite a normal race. But for the French guys in the team, they are extra motivated and excited for their home Grand Prix. So that’s my focus – to do better than ever for them, and concentrate on winning in France for our team, for Renault, and for Michelin and Elf as well."
What about the circuit? Will it be a good one for yourself and the Renault package?"I think so. There are a few high speed corners there, and you need good traction. Both of those things are characteristics of the R26, so it will be a good circuit for us and for Michelin too I think. There are two quick chicanes at Magny-Cours that I really enjoy, taken in 5th or 6th gear, and they are the only ones of their type on any circuit. So it has some unique challenges as well."
Finally, Ferrari dominated the Indianapolis race weekend. Do you expect to bounce back strongly in France?"Yes. I won four races in a row before Indy, but I always said that the championship was not over, and it sounded really pessimistic. But a gap of 25 points before Indy didn’t mean that we would be champions automatically, and now that the gap is 19 points, we cannot be pessimistic and think the advantage will disappear quickly. You have to look at the big picture for the championship. I was first or second at nine of the ten races – and in the next eight races, I think we will be able to keep on winning and increase the lead even more."
Source Renaultf1
