Analysis: Renault find good times

Pre-race favourites Ferrari are set to face a stronger than expected challenge from Renault for victory in Australia this weekend, with the reigning world champions appearing to have put their early testing woes behind them

The team's new R27 had failed to shine in its first test outings, but it appears that the improvements the team made in their final test in Bahrain have helped them make a big step forward to put them firmly in contention for victory.

Heading into the weekend few expected the team to pose any serious threat for the win, and the fact Giancarlo Fisichella failed to get within half a second of pace-setter Felipe Massa in Friday practice would indicate at first glance that those predictions were correct.

Plus, the fuel pressure failures that stopped Fisichella and Heikki Kovalainen out on track would also point to all not being well at Renault.

However, closer analysis of Fisichella's performance in Friday afternoon's practice session tells a very different story - and points to his team joining the fight with Ferrari, McLaren and perhaps BMW for victory.

One leading rival technical director said: "Renault look like they are going to be the surprise package of the weekend. Fisichella's long run pace was better than McLaren and quick enough to worry Ferrari."

That view has come from Fisichella's final long run of the afternoon - and before he put in his quickest time.

After emerging from the pits, Fisichella did a run of nine strong laps, the final five of which were: 1:28.357, 1:28.787, 1:28.515, 1:28.344 and 1:28.500.

This compares favourably with the efforts of his main rivals (see below) and, because the run was over a 10-lap distance, meant that there was at least 30-kilogrammes of fuel on board - and probably more. The pace of BMW-Sauber looked equally impressive, but the shorter runs they did would point to them having less fuel on board.

Longest full stint per driver:

Alonso

Hamilton

Fisichella

Massa

Raikkonen

Heidfeld

Kubica

1:29.216

1:29.270

1:29.752

1:27.353

1:28.377

1:27.970

1:28.281

1:31.314

1:29.301

1:34.153

1:30.491

1:28.651

1:28.270

1:29.589

1:31.948

1:35.047

1:29.361

1:28.842

1:29.495

1:28.520

1:28.597

1:32.581

1:28.987

1:32.826

1:29.252

1:31.592

1:28.273

1:30.730

1:33.037

1:29.260

1:28.357

1:34.037

1:31.677

1:28.337

1:28.629

1:31.579

1:45.019

1:28.787

1:29.808

1:30.043

1:31.072

1:29.116

1:28.515

1:29.624

1:29.508

1:31.328

1:28.781

1:28.344

1:34.580

1:28.500

1:29.485

Although it is impossible to judge exactly how much fuel each of Fisichella's rivals were running, there seemed little doubt at Renault about just how good their performance had been.

"We are struggling a little bit on single lap and are a bit far away from other people," said Fisichella, whose car had started to lose speed on its fastest lap of the day with the fuel pump issue. "But in the race conditions, we are similar or even better.

"The car balance is getting better and better. We are struggling a bit on new tyres, but on long runs the pace is really good, it is very competitive, so I am looking forward to the race. It is going to be a tough qualifying session tomorrow, but we have a good chance to do well on Sunday."

Renault boss Flavio Briatore was equally bullish after the session. When asked by autosport.com if he believed his team were in the fight for the win, or whether he believed Ferrari were too strong, he said: "I don't think this of Ferrari. I don't think so.

"Ferrari in the winter is always fantastic. They were very strong last year, they finished strong, but we don't need to forget we win the race and we win the championship last year with a less-performing car than Ferrari. It is not a big surprise. I am sure the fight is between Ferrari, us and McLaren.

"Today Fisi was super, and I am sorry that we had the problem early with him. Without this Fisi was really on top. He was very quick in T1 and in T2, but then he lost some time because we heard the bam, bam, bam noise and we tell him to go ahead. He was very strong with fuel and hard tyres and it was good."