Canadian GP: Renault Friday qualifying notes

Mixed feelings for the Mild Seven Renault F1 Team after first qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix. While Fernando Alonso, third to run, managed to claim fifth place on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Jarno Trulli, running several minutes later, had to struggle with significantly heavier rain during his timed lap. As a result of these particularly difficult conditions, he finished the session 19th.

Fernando Alonso:

"First and foremost, I had a pretty cautious lap today. In these conditions, the main thing is to not go off the track, which I managed to avoid; our package could have been even faster I think, but we didn't get much running in the wet this morning and my timed lap was my first proper 'quick' lap on a wet track. Taking that into account, I think we can be pretty pleased with our performance today."

Jarno Trulli:

"What can I say? As I left the garage, it was as if a thunderstorm had just started -- it was raining much more heavily, which meant my lap was much slower than our rivals. The car was aquaplaning everywhere on the circuit, and especially in the left-hand curve after the second hairpin. Obviously, I'm very disappointed with today's result, but the consolation is that this is only the Friday session. Things can only get better tomorrow."

Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering:

"Single lap qualifying is, at all times, a difficult process for the drivers, who must find the correct balance between speed and safety, and conditions like we saw today only make the job more difficult. Fernando managed to find that balance today whereas Jarno seemed to get the worst of the rain, and suffered as a consequence."

Denis Chevrier, Engine Operations Manager:

"A characteristically unusual wet session, with big gaps between the different runners, something which is also true of our drivers. Driving in wet conditions is always about judging the risks you can take: Fernando came out of the session as the fastest Michelin car while Jarno seemed to have more difficulty. On the technical side, the data we gathered during our two 'Heathrow' hours this morning has been our most valuable exercise today. Given that our direct competitors could only complete very limited dry running in free practice, our work today could prove significant for the rest of the weekend."

Fernando Alonso, 5th,
1:35.173
Jarno Trulli, 19th
1:41.413

-renault-