Formula 1
Canadian GP: Renault technical preview
Renault Montreal Tech File Including several quick corners, long straights and plenty of heavy braking with four stops from over 300 kph, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve demands a car that gives the drivers confidence to brake late -- and get the ...
Published: Jun 21, 2006, 5:30 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Renault Montreal Tech File
Including several quick corners, long straights and plenty of heavy braking with four stops from over 300 kph, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve demands a car that gives the drivers confidence to brake late -- and get the power on early. Here's a run-down of what the Renault F1 Team does to the set-up to tweak the handling of the R26 for this circuit!
Aerodynamics: With the circuit layout composed of long straights only a few quick corners, we will generally use low levels of downforce in order to achieve competitive straightline speeds. Reducing drag is a primary focus for the aerodynamicists as they prepare special wings for Canada and the USA.
Suspension: With low levels of downforce, the car will feel 'light' to drive and nervous. The drivers will therefore have to be smoother and more delicate with their steering inputs, but also with their application of brakes and throttle. To improve stability and avoid costly rear brake locking under heavy braking, we will tune the suspension: a stiff front end gives a good change of direction through the slow corners, with softer settings at the rear in order to improve the car's braking stability on corner entry, and traction on the exit.
Brakes: Overheating is not the primary concern with the brakes at this circuit, as the long straights give them ample time to cool properly. However, we must monitor disc and pad wear extremely carefully as they must absorb significant braking energies around the lap. We measure the wear levels in real time, and according to the read-outs, we may ask the driver to adjust the brake balance forwards or rearwards.
Tyres: Tyre wear will not be particularly significant here, because the track surface is not particularly abrasive. However, the traction demands of the circuit mean the rear tyres will endure a harder time than the fronts, and blistering could be an issue in hot conditions.
Engine performance: The repeated pattern of heavy braking/heavy acceleration that characterises the Montreal circuit, means we use the engine in a very 'stop-start' fashion. With nearly 66% of the lap spent at full throttle, and long continuous sections at maximum load, the circuit is at the demanding end of the scale for the engine. Good torque is also a bonus, to help launch the car out of the slow corners.
Gearbox: We will pay particular attention to gear ratios and the selection of seventh gear at this circuit. Not only do we have to take into account the effects of slipstreaming down the long straights, but also the wind direction, which can have a significant positive or negative impact on speeds down the back straight in particular.
Cooling: Cut grass around the circuit has in the past proved a hazard when it comes to cooling the engine properly in Canada. It is an area we monitor closely.
-renault-
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article SPEED announces US GP coverage
Next article MF1 interview with Harlow
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Gilles Villeneuve
What Jacques Villeneuve really learned from Gilles: "I can do this, you can’t"
Formula 1
Formula 1
What Jacques Villeneuve really learned from Gilles: "I can do this, you can’t"
Who belongs on F1's Mount Rushmore? Pick your four greatest drivers
Formula 1
Formula 1
Who belongs on F1's Mount Rushmore? Pick your four greatest drivers
Gilles Villeneuve’s final F1 race helmet breaks auction record
Formula 1
Formula 1
Canadian GP
Gilles Villeneuve’s final F1 race helmet breaks auction record
More from
Renault F1 Team
“I went back to the car and cried” – Esteban Ocon opens up about his unexpected year on F1 sidelines
Formula 1
Formula 1
“I went back to the car and cried” – Esteban Ocon opens up about his unexpected year on F1 sidelines
You Ask The Questions: Robert Kubica
Formula 1
You Ask The Questions: Robert Kubica
On this day: Michael Schumacher’s final unsportsmanlike manoeuvre
Formula 1
Formula 1
Monaco GP
On this day: Michael Schumacher’s final unsportsmanlike manoeuvre
Latest news
Philipp Eng and BMW to part ways after 11 years
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 3 min
Philipp Eng and BMW to part ways after 11 years
Frankie Muniz offers new details on 2027 NASCAR plans
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Talladega
42 min
Frankie Muniz offers new details on 2027 NASCAR plans
Joan Mir remains on the sidelines as Honda forced to race with one rider in Australia
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
54 min
Joan Mir remains on the sidelines as Honda forced to race with one rider in Australia
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe