Q & A with Renault's Fabrice Lom

Q. Fabrice, we are visiting another new track in Singapore. How have you prepared for it?

Fabrice Lom - Renault, Principal Engineer, Track Support: As for Valencia, which was another circuit that we didn't know, we obtained the maps of the Singapore track and the GPS data so that we could work out the ideal racing line. The result is that we have started our simulations as usual. The chassis team have worked out their basic set-up and the engine team have also carried out their preparation: mapping, gear ratios etc...

Q. What information have you learnt from these simulations?

FL: There are still lots of unknowns, of course, but we do know is that the circuit has lots of slow corners: more than ten that are taken in second gear. Singapore is essentially about braking and acceleration, and so it should not be too difficult a test for the V8s as these are the usual characteristics of street circuits.

Q. You talk of the unknowns, what are they?

FL: Formula One will race for the first time at night. The drivers must get used to this new environment, just as the technicians and the engineers will have to as we will arrive at the circuit about 17:00 and leave at about 6:00 in the morning. Our entire working schedule will be different and that could have some consequences.

Q. In terms of engines, where are you in the engine cycles for Mark Webber and David Coulthard?

FL: In Monza, we took a strategic decision and played our joker by changing Mark's V8, and so he will race in Singapore with the engine he used in Monza. In terms of the characteristics of Singapore, this should not be a big disadvantage, especially as the race in Italy took place in the rain. David will have a fresh engine. We are not particularly worried about our reliability, but it's something that you can never take for granted.