Renault disappointed to miss out on top six

Renault's two drivers Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso could have qualified higher up the grid after disappointing performances in the new-for-2003 one-lap final qualifying session in Melbourne today, that is the view of the team's technical director Mike Gascoyne

Mar 8, 2003, 6:27 AM

Alonso qualified tenth but a lurid slide in one of the quickest sections of the Albert Park track cost him a place in the top six, while Trulli struggled to come to terms with a car that suddenly began to understeer.

"A very disappointing session today after our drivers made mistakes on their laps," said Gascoyne, "costing us what should have been a possible second row starting position for both of them on the grid. Despite that we have been very quick this weekend, we believe we have a good strategy and I am confident we will be competitive."

Trulli admitted that he had expected to do better: "This was a strange qualifying session for me since the car, which had been very well balanced all weekend, had huge understeer in this session."