Renault 'on the Right Strategy' for the Race

Renault technical director Mike Gascoyne said today that the team's front-row lockout for Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix was not a surprise and suggested the strategy they have could see them win at Sepang.

The new Formula One qualifying regulations threw up their first surprise pole position of the season when young Renault driver Fernando Alonso claimed the top spot ahead of Renault teammate Jarno Trulli.

Gascoyne insisted their pace was not down to ultra-low fuel and said: "The car is pretty competitive. The engine is not up there yet but the chassis is a good step forward. Both drivers have turned in really good laps."

The result marked the first pole position for Renault since Patrick Tambay started from the top spot in the French Grand Prix 19 years ago and Gascoyne believes it displays a true reflection of their progress.

World Champion Michael Schumacher finished third and it is likely that the Ferrari driver's time was slower than the two Renaults because they chose to run less fuel in their cars, which cannot now be refuelled before the race.

But Gascoyne denied any suggestion that Renault had gone all-out to claim pole position at the sacrifice of race tactics and told BBC Radio Five Live: "Not at all. We are on the right strategy for tomorrow."