Formula 1

Italian GP: Renault race notes

Just one point for the Mild Seven Renault F1 Team after an incident-filled Italian Grand Prix today at Monza. However, when one car is forced to retire on the first lap, and the second is damaged in a start-line collision, a point is better ...

Published: Sep 15, 2003, 5:30 PM

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Just one point for the Mild Seven Renault F1 Team after an incident-filled Italian Grand Prix today at Monza. However, when one car is forced to retire on the first lap, and the second is damaged in a start-line collision, a point is better than nothing.

Jarno Trulli made an excellent start and was third after the first chicane. He was fighting with Juan Pablo Montoya when he suffered a sudden failure which forced him to retire after the second Lesmo. The team does not yet know exactly what caused the incident, but suspects a hydraulic failure.

Fernando Alonso started last, and his car was damaged in a start-line collision with Jos Verstappen. He pitted at the end of the first lap for a new nose, and the team took the decision to fuel the car and run a one-stop strategy. In spite of a car that was not in optimum condition, he pushed throughout the race and managed to score one point after passing Nick Heidfeld's Sauber on the last lap.

Fernando Alonso, 8th

"Both myself and the team had a pretty unlucky weekend: Jarno was in a good position when he had to retire, and I had problems in qualifying and the race. Starting from the back of the grid is always a risk and unfortunately, I lost the front wing at the start: I hit Jos' car as he was trying to avoid the Jaguar. I lost a lap by stopping and after that, all I could do was push to the limit for the rest of the race. Our lap-times were good but, with all the problems we had, it wasn't enough to score big points today."

Jarno Trulli, retired, lap 1

"There's nothing much to say. I got a flying start and was fighting with Michael and Juan Pablo in the first few corners. I was going through the second Lesmo when I felt that the power steering had failed, then the engine cut out. It's a real shame, because the car was good today."

Flavio Briatore, Managing Director:

"I'm very sorry for Jarno, who made a fantastic start and was competitive all weekend: we still don't know exactly what happened. As for Fernando, his car was damaged but he drove an incredible race. His lap-times were extremely consistent, and that allowed him to score points."

Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering:

"Fernando's race today was all about damage limitation and after he had to stop at the end of the first lap, this became even more the case. At this point, we decided to switch to a one-stop strategy and we have to be grateful for a point at the end of a very difficult day. Fernando's lap-times towards the end were as quick as those fighting at the front, and we can take some consolation from that. Jarno was extremely unlucky, having put in a great performance all weekend. He stopped on the first lap with what we believe may be a hydraulic failure."

-renault-

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