Formula 1
European GP: Renault race notes
Jarno 4th and Fernando 5th gives the team a solid result at the 'Ring, reinforcing the championship position. The Mild Seven Renault F1 Team obtained a strong result this afternoon at the European Grand Prix. After an eventful opening lap, the two ...
Published: May 31, 2004, 4:55 AM
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Jarno 4th and Fernando 5th gives the team a solid result at the 'Ring, reinforcing the championship position.
The Mild Seven Renault F1 Team obtained a strong result this afternoon at the European Grand Prix. After an eventful opening lap, the two Renaults of Trulli and Alonso stopped on laps 9 and 10 respectively. From this point on, they were caught behind a number of cars on two-stop strategies.
Fernando Alonso suffered a steering problem on lap 14, which caused an off-track excursion that cost him position, but the drivers steadily climbed the order to finish 4th and 5th, thereby reinforcing the team's second position in the Constructors Championship.
Jarno Trulli, 4th position:
"I made a good start but the race was nearly over at the first corner - if I hadn't opened the door, Sato would have taken me out. I was third behind him and Michael when, two corners later, he made a mistake so I took the inside line through turn 4 but he closed the door. His right front wheel hit my front left and I nearly lost the car - in the confusion, I pressed the pit-lane speed limiter button and that cost me a number of positions."
"Afterwards, I was stuck first in the traffic behind Raikkonen, then behind slower cars after my first stop. I just pushed for the rest of the race in order to make up positions, and the car balance was good all the way through. I'm pleased with the job I did today: after finishing the first lap seventh, to be fourth at the end of the race is not so bad."
Fernando Alonso, 5th position:
"It's frustrating to finish fifth having been third on the first lap. Raikkonen held me up a lot during the first stint, which meant that after I pitted I came out among the cars on two stops. Then, the steering became very vague; it caused me to run wide in turn 4, and it took a while to get used to it. After that, I couldn't do anything but protect my position, which I managed to do."
Flavio Briatore, Managing Director:
"Our reason to be pleased today is that we scored nine more points and confirmed our excellent reliability with two cars making it to the finish. The course was solid, rather than spectacular, and the way the race unfolded did us no favours. But overall, we can be reassured that we reinforced our second position in the championship."
Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering:
"This was certainly a very difficult race for us. Jarno lost position on the opening lap, putting him in the gaggles of cars stuck behind Raikkonen, and both drivers then lost a lot of time behind slower competitors after their first stop. Fernando had a problem with the steering rack on lap 14, which caused him to run wide. This problem slowed him down throughout the remained of the race. Overall, this is not a satisfying result, but getting two cars to the finish has allowed us to increase the gap to our pursuers in the championship."
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