Allison and LRGP optimistic before Monza

Overall, how do you assess the team?s performance at Spa?
She worked extremely well on Saturday in very difficult conditions. The track engineers gave us every opportunity to maximize our performance by allowing us to always have the way clear at the best time. Our drivers also did a good job turning these opportunities into good places on the grid. Finally, if the race proved less satisfactory in terms of points, it was the best in terms of competitiveness for a long time.

How did Bruno Sunno behave?
I don't believe it is necessary to have confidential information to realize that Bruno had a remarkable weekend. The current regulations are a very big obstacle in the way of a driver arriving during the season. There is simply no opportunity to prepare in the lower pressure environment of private testing. On top of that, Bruno was to make his debut with us at Spa, a circuit where, definitely, real men stand out from little boys. Finally, he had to deal with exceptionally difficult track conditions in qualifying. Faced with all these challenges, his 7th place on the grid is a real achievement. Then, I know that Bruno was castigating himself after the first corner incident. But from my point of view, this error is perfectly understandable. It was the very first time he had driven the R31 with full fuel and he was surrounded by competitors who already had 11 races under their belt this season. Subsequently, he completed a race at a very respectable pace and I can't wait to see him back in the car.

What impact did the modifications have on the car?
We were much more on the pace at Spa than in previous Grands Prix. Neither of our two drivers had a clear race, but the potential speed of the car was worth a 5th or 6th place with a little more success. To know if we have really reached a milestone, we will have to wait for one or two Grands Prix. But the fact that we showed great competitiveness throughout the weekend, with the rain tires, the intermediates and the slicks, gives me heart to work. We had been weighed down by extremely poor performances in the wet during the last few races. So, the fact of having relegated this to oblivion comforts me in the idea that the modifications made at Spa will continue to bear fruit on other circuits.

Monza is a fairly unusual circuit on the calendar. What changes will it involve on the car?
Like everyone else, our package will give little downforce (small front and rear wings). We will also have a modified bodywork which, we hope, will allow us to develop our progress at Spa.

What is the relationship between downforce and drag? Does less drag directly mean less downforce?
The answer doesn't fit in one line. It is impossible to produce downforce without producing drag. But the job of aerodynamicists is to produce the most downforce for the least amount of drag possible. On a given circuit, cars on the grid tend towards similar drag values ​​(by adjusting the angle of the rear wing). However, at this same level of drag, the best on the grid can have more than 30% more downforce compared to the end of the grid.