Review (5/12): Renault, the pleasant surprise

Renault is in the place where we expected it, behind the four top teams, but the ballot is very favorable. One, the team ofenstone clearly ahead of the mid-table teams that are Williams, Toro Rosso and Force India. Secondly, the leading teams are not very far away and, with favorable development, Renault could seek Mercedes.

« Renault is a nice surprise! », analysis for AUTOhebdo.fr Patrick Tambay, RMC Sport consultant? BFM TV. “ Kubica is certainly a driver we expected in this position because we know his qualities, but not with this car, which finally showed that it was in the game. Petrov is also a good surprise because we certainly didn't expect him there. »

The drivers of the Losange team have effectively fulfilled their contract at the start of the season. Vitaly Petrov, who showed he had guts by resisting Lewis Hamilton in Sepang (see video) or by doubling Michael Schumacher in Shanghai, scored his first points during his fourth Grand Prix in F1. The Russian could even have scored earlier if he had not lacked success.

Gérard Lopez, boss of Genii Capital and majority shareholder of Renault F1 Team, recognized that the vice-Champion of the GP2 Series revealed himself in China. “ I am completely satisfied with Vitaly and the way he was able to bounce back from his rookie mistake, when he went off the track. Rain is a real peacemaker, and teaches you a lot when it comes to drivers, as it evens out performance levels more. He did a remarkable job in wet conditions. »

For his part, Eric Boullier is also satisfied with his young driver, who showed many qualities for a driver who had no F1 experience on January 31, during his presentation in Valencia. “ We know that Vitaly has very good qualities: his speed and his calm under pressure., declared the team manager of Renault F1 Team after Shanghai. You always have to give young drivers time. Kobayashi et Hulkenberg, the other “rookies” from established teams, have struggled to finish races and score points this year. However, they have more experience in F1. Vitaly showed that when he is comfortable with his car, he can really be very fast. »

The “No. 1 driver”, Robert Kubica, no less delights his team manager. The Pole, whose passion for motorsport is unalterable, is a workaholic, a quality that allows Renault to progress more quickly. “ He is a committed pilot who has a great sense of responsibility, confirms Boullier. His commitment to work, his integrity at all levels, are a pleasure to see. During testing, he was still on the circuit. He worked late into the evening, analyzed data and was 100% available to the team; it?s just what we need. »

« Robert is the man for the job for us, continues Boullier. He is a pure racer, who corresponds perfectly to the philosophy of the team. It?s very motivating for the entire team to see a driver working late into the evening with his engineers. If the engineers can meet his demands, and therefore manage to take advantage of them on the track, then the results will follow. »

« I knew Robert from his BMW days, even before he was in F1, declared for his part Gérard Lopez this week. I am among those who firmly believe that when it comes to speed and character, he is one of those who most deserve to win a world crown. »

An efficient car, which evolves from race to race, very sharp drivers: Renault was able to digest the painful episode of the 2009 season. Renault, with its good performances, is the pleasant surprise of this start of the season, says Patrick Tambay. Renault stands out significantly from the mid-table teams and is closer to the big four teams. »

Despite everything, there is still a step to take for the team, which cannot be cited as a permanent candidate for the podium. Ferrari, Red Bull et McLaren are a step ahead and these crucial developments will still have to see the light of day for Renault to move up in the hierarchy of manufacturers. Robert Kubica knows all this.

« We lack support », affirms the Pole in his column which he produces for AUTOhebdo. “ We are aware of the problem and I am hopeful that we will turn a corner in Barcelona. This is all the more essential as in the wake of the Spanish Grand Prix, the Monaco Grand Prix will take place, which can be considered as Renault?s national Grand Prix. No additional pressure though, but it would be good to achieve something in the Principality. On the one hand, I am quite confident about the suspensions and the way the car will behave. On the other hand, I'm a little worried about the downforce. We will know more in the evening in Barcelona. »

For Renault, the challenge is therefore significant: knowing how to get back into the group of four leading teams, the “top teams” which monopolized the podiums at the start of the season. But Robert Kubica managed to get on the box in Australia, Vitaly Petrov scored his first points in China, and the R30 was able to show its effectiveness against other single-seaters: the signals are therefore green for a team which wants to go very high, after hitting rock bottom in 2009.