26-04-2008, 05:50 PM
Renaults Pat Symonds confirmed to ITV Sport that Fernando Alonsos shock front row qualifying slot was aided by a low-fuel strategy.
The Spaniard produced the qualifying surprise of the season so far as he just missed out on pole position to Ferraris Kimi Raikkonen at Barcelona.
And although the team has made clear progress with its vastly upgraded R28 car in Spain, confirmed by Nelson Piquet Jrs first top 10 grid slot, Renaults engineering chief told Steve Rider after qualifying that Alonso had been fuelled lighter in Q3.
Well obviously there is some strategy involved, he told Steve.
But Im really pleased to see the proof of the work that we have been doing over the last few months and to see Nelson up there in the top 10, it is his first time there and it proves it is a team effort.
And when asked if the strategy involved Alonso running light, Symonds said: Well, I dont think it would be any secret to say Fernando and Nelson are not on the same strategy.
Symonds says the team decided to send Alonso out with the more aggressive strategy due to the Spaniards greater experience.
It is a question of how each driver can use it [the strategy], he said.
We really have improved the car, we have made the car a lot nicer to drive, a lot more competitive, as you have seen right through the weekend I think.
Nelson still needs to learn, he still needs to get the races under his belt and it is probably not the best thing to be very aggressive with it.
Renault had been hoping to return to the front of the field with its R28 car this year but had struggled to score points in each of the opening three flyaway races.
Symonds admits the team is desperate to start picking up some stronger results, and is hopeful these will finally start to come in Sunday's race.
Well [it means] a lot, but its Sunday that counts and I think that with the season we had last year and the way we started this season, we just want to see some solid results.
Of course its nice to be up there and we have a history of being quite creative with the way we go racing and this is another example of it.
It means a lot to us, but Sunday is when it really counts.
The Spaniard produced the qualifying surprise of the season so far as he just missed out on pole position to Ferraris Kimi Raikkonen at Barcelona.
And although the team has made clear progress with its vastly upgraded R28 car in Spain, confirmed by Nelson Piquet Jrs first top 10 grid slot, Renaults engineering chief told Steve Rider after qualifying that Alonso had been fuelled lighter in Q3.
Well obviously there is some strategy involved, he told Steve.
But Im really pleased to see the proof of the work that we have been doing over the last few months and to see Nelson up there in the top 10, it is his first time there and it proves it is a team effort.
And when asked if the strategy involved Alonso running light, Symonds said: Well, I dont think it would be any secret to say Fernando and Nelson are not on the same strategy.
Symonds says the team decided to send Alonso out with the more aggressive strategy due to the Spaniards greater experience.
It is a question of how each driver can use it [the strategy], he said.
We really have improved the car, we have made the car a lot nicer to drive, a lot more competitive, as you have seen right through the weekend I think.
Nelson still needs to learn, he still needs to get the races under his belt and it is probably not the best thing to be very aggressive with it.
Renault had been hoping to return to the front of the field with its R28 car this year but had struggled to score points in each of the opening three flyaway races.
Symonds admits the team is desperate to start picking up some stronger results, and is hopeful these will finally start to come in Sunday's race.
Well [it means] a lot, but its Sunday that counts and I think that with the season we had last year and the way we started this season, we just want to see some solid results.
Of course its nice to be up there and we have a history of being quite creative with the way we go racing and this is another example of it.
It means a lot to us, but Sunday is when it really counts.