New floor key to Hulkenberg qualifying fifth for British GP - Renault
The new floor the Renault Formula 1 team brought to the British Grand Prix was key to Nico Hulkenberg securing fifth on the grid, says Cyril Abiteboul
Hulkenberg was fourth in Q1, fifth in Q2 and sixth in Q3, but he moves up a place due to a grid penalty for Valtteri Bottas following his gearbox change.
Renault Sport F1 managing director Abiteboul said the upgrade package that included the floor had provided an immediate boost and that there was more to come.
"A great day," Abiteboul told Autosport.
"It's typical F1: you leave Austria nowhere, and you suddenly you come one week later to Silverstone and the car is completely changed.
"We knew we were bringing quite a lot of parts. We don't play up external and also internal expectations.
"We have a floor and all that goes with it, and there is more to come from Budapest onwards.
"That floor is the triggering event to many more steps to come.
"I'm really happy because it's also good for all that is in pipeline, because in the windtunnel is a couple of weeks in advance of the car, and that's confirming the direction we are following is right, and hopefully that will pay off."
Abiteboul said Renault would not get carried away with the qualifying result on a weekend where it was celebrating the 40th anniversary of its original works team's F1 debut at the 1977 British GP.
"We need to be careful, because this track and this weather is playing to our advantage," he said.
"The long run will be a different story. The key area for tonight and tomorrow is to think about tyre management and strategy.
"It is still a great result for a team that is in construction.
"It's also a day of celebration for us because it's 40 years, so it's perfect timing."
Previous article
Grosjean: Hamilton let off by stewards because of title fight
Next article
Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo could add more British GP grid penalties
The other notable Monza escape that F1 should learn from
OPINION: The headlines were dominated by the Italian Grand Prix crash between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, who had the halo to thank for avoiding potentially serious injury. But two days earlier, Formula 1 had a lucky escape with a Monza pitlane incident that could also have had grave consequences
How Monza only added more questions to F1's sprint race conundrum
With two sprint races under its belt, Formula 1 must now consider its options for them going forward. While they've helped deliver exciting racing on Sundays, the sprints themselves have been somewhat lacking - creating yet another conundrum for F1 to solve...
Who should Alfa Romeo sign for 2022's F1 season?
OPINION: With Valtteri Bottas already signed up for 2022, all eyes are on the race for the second seat at Alfa Romeo next year. Antonio Giovinazzi is the current incumbent, but faces a tough competition from appealing short and long-term prospects
The "forced break" that was key to Ricciardo's Monza excellence
OPINION: Daniel Ricciardo has long been considered one of Formula 1’s elite drivers. But his struggles at McLaren since switching from Renault for 2021 have been painful to watch at times. Yet he’s recovered to banish those memories with a famous Monza win – built on a critically important foundation
How Verstappen is ruining his F1 title battle with Hamilton
OPINION: The Italian GP clash between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen followed a running theme in the 2021 Formula 1 title fight. Their close-quarters battles have often resulted in contact - and although Hamilton has shown a willingness to back off, Verstappen must learn to temper his aggression
Italian Grand Prix Driver Ratings
Two drivers produced maximum-score performances as, for the second year in a row, Monza threw up an unpredictable result that left several others ruing what might have been
Why Ricciardo was set for Monza F1 triumph even without Verstappen/Hamilton crash
The clash between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton was the major flashpoint the 2021 Italian Grand Prix will be remembered for. Yet by this point, race leader Daniel Ricciardo had already done the hard work that would put him in position to end his and McLaren's lengthy win droughts, on a memorable afternoon in Monza
Why Italian GP success is on for McLaren even if Verstappen dominates
For the second time in 2021, McLaren will line up for the start of a grand prix from the first row. It knows it has the chance of “glory” if things go well for Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris at the start of the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, but even if they just maintain their grid positions, signs from the rest of the Monza weekend suggest success is very possible for Formula 1’s other orange army
