Posted 10 November 2008 - 17:12
Geetings
I let you two interviews that IMHO I consider they can be of your interest. The former is an Denis Chevrier’s interview with the Spanish newspaper “Público” done some weeks ago.The latter is an Bob Bell ‘s interview with the French newspaper “L’Equipe”. I beg you to accept my sincere apologies for my poor English.
INTERVIEW with Denis Chevrier
"Alonso gives you the best solution"
The Renault F1 engine department director,recognizes the contribution of Spanish driver in the evolution of the R28.
With his eye-intellectual, he has an hippie air, evocative of the French May 68, a country where he was born 54 years ago. Denis Chevrier is director of the of Renault F1 engine department and owner of a brain where merge the ideas to improve the cars of Alonso and Piquet. He was in 2005 and 2006, when Briatore's team won the championships, and also the last two years, when the successes left the French team. Great admirer of the Spanish driver, reflects on what happened during the season that concludes the next day 2 in Brazil.
Denis Chevrier (DC)"In the engine, there have been no major changes, only we have improved some parts".
Q:"In China, have we seen the best Alonso again?"
DC:"Yes. He returned to make a fantastic qualifying and was able to give the maximum from the first meter of the race, staying just a few meters from the Ferrari. Despite losing the position to Kovalainen at the start, he had the talent to recover in what was, in my opinion, the best overtaking of the race. Throughout the season, Fernando had the intelligence enough to be most of the time behind the more powerful cars. And many times has been mixed among them, even taking a less powerful machine. He has a special ability to do so."
Q:"The R28 has improved greatly in recent races. Was it thanks to the engine or are there other things?"
DC:"In the engine, there have been no major changes. We've only optimized some components that facilitated us its use. I believe that the improvement of the R28 is due to a proper symbiosis between some aerodynamic developments, other features in the suspensions and those little things to which I referred to the engine, but not a single thing.
When all things are heading in the right direction in a race car, everything works fine, but if we have one that does not go in the right way, it complicates the proper running of the others. Although I must also emphasize that, without Fernando's input, we had not been able to reach certain technical conclusions, as it has guided us many times towards the best solution. He has an exceptional technical perception and that is something highly valued by engineers."
Q:"Is it so important for you to have a driver like that?"
DC:"Yes. From a technical standpoint, the engineers have all kinds of parameters that are supported by data and more data. But these technical resources don't make the car faster. When you have the support of a driver as Fernando, you can know which way to go without wasting time, optimizing resources and amplifying the improvement. After the car comes to track, it returns with the data that provides the technology, but when those data are combined with what Fernando says, the result is much better."
Q:"Something, I suppose, even more important in a year like 2008, when it has started using a common ECU in all cars".
DC:"Exactly!. During the winter, we were collecting an enormous amount of data difficult to digest. Besides, we were running without traction control for the first time in a long time. Thanks to Alonso, we could be putting everything into place, combining the data provided by the machines. It is a slow process, whith the aim to try to go in the right direction".
Q:"Should not collaborate all drivers in that task?
DC:"There are many who simply say that the car is not right. Others, like Alonso, know that in F1 we have to go step by step improving."
Q:"What are your views on the proposal of a single engine for all?"
DC:"Today, every thing that is discussed is related to the money. From the professional aspect, I would say that this measure is removing the F1 of a major technical challenge, but it is also true that, perhaps, that challenge will be remain limited on a subjects such as energy recovery the so-called KERS, or the optmization of the fuel that we will use in these engines in the future, if in the end we have to use all the teams the same engine."
Q:"What is your standpoint about the idea of one engine for 3 races? Does it reduce costs?."
DC:" Yes, the costs were reduced when was imposed an engine for a weekend, then for two and for sure they will be reduced in case we use one engine for 3 races. For Renault has meant a significant reduction in costs and I want to believe that it has been for the rest."
-----------
In an interview with the French newspaper 'L'Équipe, the Renault technical director, Bob Bell, has admitted that Fernando Alonso has been played a keyrole in the Renault F1 brilliant endseason. "We've been very lucky to have him with us," he says.
"Fernando has helped us a lot. It doesn’t mean that a driver, whatever, has a direct influence on the technical development of the car, or he tells us how it should be the shape of the spoiler. Fernando is much more than the exceptional driver everybody knows. He is a very, very good test driver. He is intelligent, wise, precise, consistent in each lap. He can tell exactly what's wrong with your car in every moment, to point the finger at the problem so that arises. Working with him is equvalent to a form of security: do not have to ask yourself if you are right or not. The answer is yes, "says Bob Bell.
"In addition, continued on the impact of Alonso in the Renault-progress, it is the overboost which has given the team. ( It is also important..) when you ask people to make an extra effort when they are giving the maximun. They know that the day that Fernando has a good race car, he will respond because he always know how to get out the maximun performance of the car. Look what he did in Singapore! "
Bob Bell acknowledges in the interview that the difficulties of Renault go back to "before 2007, before the departure of Alonso. We began to lose ground in the middle of the 2006 season. At that time, we were busy in the battle for the title with Fernando, we were only focused on that goal. Then in 2007 we had to attack the problems, identify, rectify the work proceedings, mainly in the field of aerodynamics. Another of our concerns were the Bridgestone tires, new for us. Only at the end of 2007 championship we found all the solutions to develop the car with confidence. By then we had lost seven or eight months ".
Ciao
, I noticed this tidbit right near the bottom of the story,
This is what they've needed to hear. Go Flav & Fred.
