Britain preview quotes: Renault

Q. Fernando, you tested at Silverstone in April and many drivers commented that the circuit was very different. Can you explain why?

FA: The circuit is certainly very different now with the V8 engines, to how it was last year with the V10. We have a lot of high-speed corners at Silverstone, and even though this year's cars have less power, there is more grip thanks to the softer tyres. That means we are much quicker in the corners, and a lot of the first part of the lap is now nearly flat out. Certainly, this is the biggest difference we have felt so far between the V8 and V10 engines.

Q. What does that change for you as drivers?

FA: First of all, it makes the circuit tougher physically - with so many high-speed corners, and quite a bumpy track surface, Silverstone is difficult for the drivers to cope with. Then, of course, it is a question of fun. It is always a nice feeling to be attacking high-speed corners and be right on the limit...

Q. Silverstone is one of the 'classic' races on the Formula One calendar. Does it have a special atmosphere?

FA: For sure. The British fans have a special feeling for Formula One - not just passion, but very deep knowledge as well. That means there is a good relationship with the crowd at this circuit, and then of course, this is a little bit of a home race for us as well. The factory in Enstone is only half an hour away from the circuit, and all the people from the factory come to the circuit over the weekend to watch the race. So we know we are putting on the show for our teammates as well, and that makes it fun to race there.

Q. In recent races, we have seen the balance of power between the leading teams swing back and forth according to which tyre manufacturer had the upper hand. Will this be a 'Michelin' track?

FA: The Michelin tyres were very good when we tested in Silverstone a couple of months ago, and I am very confident that they will be strongest this weekend. But we have to run, to wait and see the conditions, before we make too many predictions. At the last races, we have seen the balance of power shift between the first day of practice and the race itself, so we will have to see how the track evolves, and what the tyre performance is like on Sunday afternoon.

Q. What about the car set-up at Silverstone: what do you need?

FA: You need the car to have a little bit of everything - good aerodynamic grip for the quick corners and a stable handling balance, good ride to cope with the bumps, and good mechanical grip for the slow section at the end of the lap. We basically have two circuits at Silverstone: a quick one in the first half, then lots of slow-speed corners in the second part of the lap. But it's a track that separates the good cars from the bad ones.

Q. You have taken victories in the last two races: can you make it three in a row?

FA: I am feeling very confident ahead of this race. We had a good test at Silverstone and we know that the characteristics of the circuit are good for the R26, so there is no reason to think we won't be fighting at the front. There is no point making big predictions, saying we will definitely win. Ferrari will be very strong, McLaren maybe as well if they can maintain their speed from Monaco. It will not be an easy weekend, but I certainly think we can be fighting for the win.

Giancarlo Fisichella

Q. Giancarlo, you are third in the World Championship as we arrive at the eighth race of the season. What is your verdict on the season so far?

GF: I think it has been a good start to the season, and I am in a much stronger position than at the same time last year. When I have a clean race, without problems, then I finish on the podium. And even when incidents like we had in Monaco mean I have to start down the field, I am driving aggressively and making up positions - I overtook five cars on the track in Monte Carlo! I am driving better than ever, and it is great to be arriving at Silverstone, one of my favourite circuits in the whole season.

Q. Silverstone is a legendary circuit in Formula One - is it one you enjoy?

GF: Silverstone is a fantastic circuit. It is very important to do well there: we have all the people from Enstone watching us, so that makes the weekend even more important. I really enjoy racing there: the high-speed corners in the first sector especially are very exciting for the drivers. This is definitely one of the special races of the season.

Q. Tell us about the circuit with the R26...

GF: It felt really good in the test a few weeks ago. The difference this year is in the corners, because we are doing maybe 15 or 20 kph more on the entry than in 2005. So there are some places on the track, like Turn 1 at Copse, where we are doing 280 kph as we turn in. That's pretty quick!

Q. What do you need to be quick in Silverstone?

GF: It is a track where you need efficient aerodynamics, and a car that has a stable balance so you can carry speed through the quick corners. You need to feel really confident with the car to attack properly, and the R26 lets us do that. Once you have the confidence, then you can put the car on the limit, keep the momentum in the first part of the lap and do some good lap-times.

Q. Monaco was a difficult race for you. Are you optimistic that you can have a strong race this weekend?

GF: I was quickest there when we tested in April so for sure, I expect to be right up at the front of the field. I think this is one of the circuits for our package. Ferrari will be the main competitors, I think, and probably very close in terms of performance. But I think we have the performance to win the race this weekend.

Denis Chevrier, Head of Trackside Engine Operations

Q. Denis, Renault has a special relationship with Silverstone, having made its F1 debut here in 1977. Is it a special race for the team?

DC: Absolutely, this is always one of the big races of the year. Historically, this has been a key race in July, right in the heart of the decisive part of the championship. Unusually this year, we are going there a little earlier, but the championship is quite delicately poised at the moment.

Q. In the 1990s, you worked as race engineer to Nigel Mansell among others, when he drove Renault-powered cars. Silverstone must have some special memories for you...

DC: Yes, I have some wonderful memories from this circuit. In 1991, for example, when Mansell stopped and brought Senna back to the pits sat on his sidepod after winning the race. Or in 1992, when Nigel was already comfortably on pole during qualifying - but demanded another set of new tyres to go out again, even though he knew nobody would beat his time. He did it just for the fun of it, for the pure pleasure of driving a Formula One car. And indeed, the incredible opening laps of the race, when he built a three second lead over his teammate between Becketts and Woodcote on the opening lap. There was an incredible connection between Nigel and his fans, and that was his opportunity to perform in front of them, to really show what he could do. They were fantastic years at Silverstone.

Q. Silverstone is also a circuit that has evolved significantly over the years...

DC: It is a place that is always changing with the times, always modernising. Back in the mid-80s, with the turbo engines, this was a place that asked for real courage. Some of that spirit was lost as they made changes, but we still had 'landmark' corners like Becketts that separated the great drivers from the good. Now this year, some drivers will be taking corners like Copse flat out with the V8 engines. That is going to be impressive to watch, and in spirit, I think it makes Silverstone much more like the circuit it used to be twenty years ago.

Q. How demanding a circuit is this for the V8 engines?

DC: We now spend over 70% of the lap at full throttle, and that's a big change compared to last year - one of the biggest we have seen between the V8 and V10 engines. That means there are a lot of high speed corners taken either flat out, or at almost full throttle, which makes life tough for the engines. It is a difficult circuit for the chassis too. We run high downforce levels here and with the high speeds, the car is under heavy loadings for much of the lap. Of course, it's also a big challenge for the drivers. They need to maintain their pace and rhythm during a long, demanding race.

Q. What is your assessment of the championship position after the first seven races?

DC: Renault is clearly in the position everybody else wants to be. We have a lead in the championship and as each race goes and we maintain it, the advantage swings towards us. At the moment, every race is a pressure race for the people trying to catch us.

Q. So, are thoughts already turning to managing that lead? DC: Not at all - it would be suicidal to start racing defensively at this stage of the year. We cannot be secure with the position we are in at the moment, and we are still pushing and taking risks. We will approach Silverstone like every other race: pushing the limits of our performance, without endangering our reliability. We need to seize every opportunity that comes our way.

Q. What do you believe has been the team's main strength so far this year?

DC: To my mind, the key factor has been the versatility of the R26 package. We have had one of the two quickest cars at every circuit we have raced on so far this year, and that consistency gives us the platform to achieve results. What's more, we have had the performance at the right times, in the strategic moments of the race. Silverstone is another race where the ability to call on maximum performance at key moments is likely to be crucial. I am sure we will see the race decided by very close margins; that's the kind of race we enjoy.

Q. Finally, what is the health of the two V8 engines going into the Silverstone weekend?

DC: Giancarlo will be using a fresh engine, so there are no issues for him. Fernando's engine completed the Monaco weekend without any problems - and although Monaco poses some unusual challenges, it is not a demanding circuit in terms of pure engine performance. So Fernando's V8 is in good condition for the weekend ahead. The next three races are all demanding in terms of engine performance, and all the teams will need a reliable specification capable of withstanding the rigours of those races. We are confident that we have it in the RS26.