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We Are the Champions Again: Interview with Pat Symonds

A decade ago, Michael Schumacher won a brace of World Championships with Benetton. He did it with a Ford engine in 1994 and a Renault engine in '95. Renault's director of engineering Pat Symonds was there then, just as he has overseen Fernando Alonso to Renault's first Drivers' Championship win as an entrant in its own right. Tony Dodgins talked to him in Brazil

TD: This year must rank right up there with your best seasons?

Pat Symonds: "It's too bloody long!"

TD: Does winning the Championship without the quickest car remind you of 1994?

Symonds: "In '94 we started with the quickest car but then they changed the rules on us and it was difficult to adapt. But in '95 I agree, the Williams was a better car than the Benetton. But you're so right and I don't really know how to put it. Yes, the McLaren's a quicker car, but that's all really.

"I think that as a team we've performed better and included in that is the strategic decisions of making sure that the reliability is there, as much as anyone can. We put a lot of effort into that. Last year I was upset about our reliability. We threw away golden opportunities in the US and Canadian Grands Prix. So there was a lot of focus on that and operating the team well. I'm pleased with what we've achieved."

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