From GMM
According to Fernando Alonso and his boss Flavio Briatore, major step forward thanks to an aerodynamic overhaul means the R29 is a potential podium contender for the eight remaining races of 2009. The 27-year-old Spaniard, although out qualified for the first time ever by his teammate Nelson Piquet amid the Q2 rain, finished the German GP seventh. But towards the end of the grand prix, the Renault was easily the fastest car; in the hands of Alonso setting the first, second, fourth, fifth and sixth best lap times of the entire Nurburgring race. Alonso says the car has benefited from significant aerodynamic changes, particularly to the double diffuser. The updated R29, not raced by Piquet in Germany, also featured new wheel fairings, engine cover and front wing, and Alonso says it all added up to a four-tenths gain compared with the Silverstone package. "We could have finished higher if the rain had not hurt is in qualifying, because the (race) traffic hurt us a lot, and also our start. We have a problem there and we need to fix it before Hungary," said Flavio Briatore. "But I must say we are happy; the car was the fastest of the grand prix with some extraordinary times," the Italian said. Alonso set the fastest lap of the race with a time of 1:33.365 on lap 49. Briatore believes concentrating too hard on KERS in the winter and early in the season cost Renault crucial development effort. The French squad abandoned the energy-recovery technology several races ago. "We lost an incredible time with KERS," he confirms. "Now we have worked hard to modify the car and are in the right direction." Photos: Renault
Recent Articles
|
Racing Multimedia
Recommendations |