Renault seeks the “magic solution”

Fernando, progress is slow in coming, as far as results are concerned. However, you said that Silverstone should suit you…
We thought the circuit would suit the R29 but after the qualifying session we concluded that we were not as competitive as we had hoped. My start to the race was not very good and I found myself stuck behind Nick Heidfeld, who was heavier on fuel. This eliminated my chances of finishing in the points. I fought a few nice battles, especially the one with Lewis Hamilton but frankly, I prefer to fight at the front of the pack.

Do you think the team will be able to get back to the best single-seaters soon?
We find ourselves in a similar position to last year. The difference this year is that the teams are very close to each other. This makes it more difficult to take a big step forward. This is not impossible, however: if you find three or four tenths through an evolution, it can make a very significant difference. It can put you five or six places higher on the grid. The team is therefore trying to find this magic solution that will allow us to improve our performance. But it won't be easy.

Now, the Nürburgring circuit looms large during the German GP. A circuit that can succeed for you?
It?s not my favorite circuit but it?s a good circuit which has a wide range of turns. The car must perform well in fast zones thanks to medium aerodynamic downforce. In slow corners, good braking stability and good traction are important. We will also have to work on our departures because, once lost, places are difficult to recover.