We need to improve for Budapest - Alonso
After a tough and disappointing weekend at Hockenheim, the Renault F1 Team heads to Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix, the 13th stage of the 2006 Formula One season. Fernando Alonso hopes for improvement in Hungary as Michael Schumacher is coming closer and closer in the Championship.
"Yes, probably the hardest of the season because we didn’t expect to have the problems we did. We were not competitive throughout the weekend but even so, I think we had the performance to get on the podium without the tyre blistering in the first stint. The important thing is that the team is still working well, and taking the maximum from every race. We did it again on Sunday. Now, we need to have confidence in ourselves and improve the situation for Budapest."
Is it realistic to expect things to turn around in just one week?"I don’t think we will see a repeat of what happened in Germany. Personally, I am calm and I know the team has been working hard to understand what happened. The tyres in Hungary are very different to what we need in Germany, and Michelin have reacted to the problems as well. People are talking about Michael closing in, but I was never over-confident when I was leading – and I am not panicking now. I am confident we can have a strong race."
Of course, Hungary will always be a special track for you, after taking your first win there three years ago…"I have fantastic memories of Hungary and that first win. It is a circuit I really like, very challenging physically and mentally because of the heat and the circuit configuration. There are so many corners that you are very busy in the cockpit, always fighting with the steering wheel, and at times it seems almost like a go-kart circuit! I enjoy every lap I drive there."
Last year, it was one of only two races in which you failed to score points…"Yes, it was a funny race last year. I had an accident at the first corner, and then I was running at the back with cooling problems. But it shows how quickly things can turn around in Formula 1, because one week earlier I had won in Germany. It will be a different picture this year I think, and the V8 engines and softer tyres will mean we are much quicker in the corners. I am expecting a good race, and there is no reason why Renault cannot come out on top."
