Japanese GP: Renault race notes

Today, at the final race of the season in Suzuka, Japan, the Mild Seven Renault F1 Team sealed its early season promise of fourth place in the Constructors' Championship. The team added one point to its Championship standings to finish with a final score of 23, after a strong sixth-place finish from Jenson Button. Unfortunately, the race also saw the retirement of Jarno Trulli on lap 32, due to a mechanical problem.

Jenson Button

"It's great to get a point for the team and myself. It has been an up and down season, but has been good for my experience. It has been fun working with the team and I wish them all the best for next year."

Jarno Trulli

"Unfortunately it has been an unlucky weekend for me here in Suzuka - especially after the car looked so promising after qualifying yesterday. Through the start of the race the car was performing well, with good lap times. Just before my second pit-stop I experienced a mechanical problem. We haven't yet been able to get to the bottom of it yet. Even though I didn't finish the race, I am happy for Jenson, as he drove a good race to get sixth. Jenson has been a good team mate and we have worked well together this season and I wish him well for next year."

Flavio Briatore, Managing Director, Mild Seven Renault F1 Team

"It was a good way to conclude this season. We are satisfied because we have fulfilled our objective for this year by securing fourth place in the Constructors Championship. However, we are still too far behind the top teams and we have to work very hard over the winter to try and close the gap. I would like to thank the whole Team for their dedication and commitment this season, our main partner Japan Tobacco and all our sponsors for their continued support."

"Special thanks to Jenson, who has done a great job and who will not be with us next season. We sincerely wish him the best of luck and success for his future."

Mike Gascoyne, Technical Director, Mild Seven Renault F1 Team

"It is good to have a third consecutive point scoring race. We have accomplished our aim of fourth place in the Constructors' Championship, which is testimony to all the hard work everyone at the team has put in. We now have to work hard through the winter testing to start next season on a positive note."

Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering, Mild Seven Renault F1 Team

"Today was a difficult race dictated by our poor grid positions. In the first stint both drivers reported that the Jordan was holding them up, so we decided to stop early. This worked and got Jarno and Jenson in front of Sato. Unfortunately for us, it appears that he made a few adjustments to his car in the first pit-stop which improved his times. We were not able to keep track position after the second stop, this coupled with losing time with the blue flag, meant we weren't able to re-challenge him again later in the race. Nevertheless we finished the season in much better shape than last year and finished with three point-scoring races in a row. Now we must look forward to next season and to be able to regularly challenge for podium positions."

Jenson Button
6th position
Chassis: R202-06
Spare: R202-01

Jarno Trulli
DNF
Chassis: R202-05

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