Renault hint at light fuel load

Speaking to UK broadcaster , Symonds said that while Renault have improved the R28 significantly since Alonso he finished tenth in Bahrain, the team had been 'creative' with Alonso's race strategy.

"Obviously there is some strategy involved," he said. "But I am really pleased to see the proof of the work that we have been doing over the last few months.

"It's also good to see Nelson [Piquet] (tenth fastest) up there in the top ten, it's his first time in Q3 and it proves it's a team effort.

"I don't think it would be any secret to say that Fernando and Nelson are not on the same strategy."

Asked why Renault had chosen to put their drivers on such contrasting strategies, with Piquet evidently running heavier, Symonds replied: "Well it's a question of how each driver can use it.

"We really have improved the car, we've made it lot nicer to drive, a lot more competitive, as you've seen right through the weekend," he added.

"Nelson still needs to learn, he still needs to get races under his belt and it is probably not the best thing to be too aggressive with him."

Despite running Alonso light in qualifying for his home race, Symonds emphasised that Renault were still aiming for a strong finish on Sunday.

"It's Sunday that counts, and with the season we had last year and the way we started this year, we just want to get some good solid results," he said. "And of course it's nice to be up there and we have a history of being quite creative with the way we go racing.

"Here is another example of it and it means a lot to us. Sunday really counts."