Sandbagging the Renault Way 22/02/2008 Rumors of sandbagging have always been rife during testing but those surrounding Renault recently have been more persistent than most. On the track, the cars have been occasionally quick but, more often, pretty ordinary. It is easy to think that they are holding back, unwilling to show the competition their full hand as yet.Fernando AlonsoThe usual claims of more tweaks to come before Melbourne abound, but every team has improvements on the way. What boosted the sandbagging idea was news of the mysterious W-wing that Renault were said to be keeping under wraps until the Australian GP. Now that the rumor has been revealed as a product of someone's clever Photoshopping skills, there is less reason to believe that Renault will be the surprise of the 2008 season.In fact, from their performance in testing, one would have to say that the team is a little behind the tightly-packed bunch vying for third fastest after Ferrari and McLaren. Most commentators agree that BMW has overcome its initial problems and taken a slight lead over the others, but I would disagree and suggest Williams as the best of the rest. Red Bull have been very quick too and it looks to me as though these three teams, BMW, Williams and RBR, are so evenly matched as to be almost inseparable.And that leaves Renault trailing somewhat, especially when it is remembered that we really have no idea how good Toyota will be, their decision to test with Ferrari rather than the others leaving us short of benchmarks. It would not surprise me if Toyota were to push Renault down yet another place at the beginning of the season.It is no wonder that Renault supporters are grasping at the sandbagging straw, therefore. The team's lackluster form in testing must be the result of keeping something in reserve, they reason. When even Alonso says that the car is still a long way behind the level of the front runners, there has to be something going on.Renault's "man who tells it like it is", Pat Symonds, gave a hint yesterday that there might be some truth in the sandbagging theory. With his statement that Ferrari's advantage is not as great as might appear, he gives hope that Renault will be very close to the Italian team come the Australian race. Since he includes Renault with McLaren and BMW as the teams immediately behind the leader, the temptation is to believe that he knows something we don't, all the indications being that Red Bull and Williams should be in that group, if not leading it.Personally, I think Pat is being optimistic. On the evidence so far, I would say that McLaren, Williams and BMW will be the teams challenging Ferrari, probably in that order. Alonso was being honest when he said that Renault could not expect podium finishes in the early races of 2008.Both Renault and Alonso are very good at recovering from setbacks, however. It should not take many races before the team are mixing it with the leaders, bringing back memories of their two championships in '05 and '06. There won't be a third to add this year but they will make a decent fight of it, even so.As for team boss, Flavio Briatore, he is still busy with his personal war of words with McLaren. With his claim that he and Alonso were talking as early as the beginning of the 2007 season about a return to Renault for the Spaniard, he is just sticking the knife into Ron Dennis again. What he fails to see is that Ron really couldn't care less by now; McLaren have a pair of very quick drivers for 2008 and both are no doubt looking forward to rubbing Renault's nose in the dirt.
Clive
Haplo I'm afraid that as much as Alonso is a great driver, he won't be in a position to win another championship. Ever.Actually it's kind of sad, seeing such a balls-out driver, well, think with his balls.And Renault, I don't see any reason to think they had anything under their sleeves, with so little testing time, every team would want to make the most of it. Date Added: 22/02/2008
Clive Interesting that you don't think Alonso will ever be champion again, Haplo. I can see that he is unlikely ever to leave Renault again but, if they manage to produce another good car in future years, he could do it. As you say, he drives well enough to be a champion many times over.But perhaps he lacks patience and will retire if Renault are unable to get him back to the front quickly enough... Date Added: 22/02/2008
Haplo I read somewhere that he didn't wanted to race along Heikki, so they are using Nelson instead... that just shows that no matter in wich team he is, he's the same insecure guy he has proved us again and again.Pity, he is a great driver indeed. Date Added: 22/02/2008
Don Speekingleesh And I heard plenty of rumours long before Alonso had his falling out with McLaren that Piquet had signed a deal to test for one year and then race. So there was no room for Heikki, not that Alonso didn't want him as a team-mate. Date Added: 22/02/2008
Clive Yes, I remember Piquet being very sure at the beginning of last year that he'd be in a race seat in 2008. At the time, I think we all put it down to an over-inflated ego but he was obviously thinking of his contract. In interviews, he comes across as a pretty level-headed and realistic guy.I read that about Alonso not wanting Heikki as his team mate, too. It's obvious that Renault bent over backwards to get him back, whatever the truth of these stories. Date Added: 22/02/2008
Haplo Anyway, heres for Sato and his super overtaking move! I hope he does it again. Date Added: 22/02/2008
Arnet We did discuss in a previous thread how difficult it is to read what is going on in testing, but I think you've got it bang on, Clive. Even if they've been running mostly heavy fuel-loads, you can't get a measure of the car's overall performance dynamics running it in one format. There would simply have to be times when they are banging out fastest laps on low fuel to work on the set-up. Since this is the case, it looks like their fastest laps just don't cut it. I'm thrilled to see Williams "The Last of the Privateers" back in the hunt. I'm keen on Nico, and I think you're right tha Nakajima is one to watch. As for Flavio having negotiations with Alonso in March of 2007, my hunch is it may have been more of a "please come back. I've left your bedroom just as you left it." Date Added: 22/02/2008
John F MY only concern with Renault is not the car. The car is not fast that is it. I think the real issue at Renault this year is with young Piquet. If Jr is faster than Alonso what do you think will happen? I think old Flavio is praying that Jr is as fast as he can be and I would not be surprised if his car is set up to be slower then FA's car. Date Added: 22/02/2008
John F I meant to say that Flavio hopes that Piquet Jr is NOT as fast as he can be!! Sorry I did not proof read Date Added: 22/02/2008
Haplo And Clive, about me thinking Alonso won't win another championship: Just see what the rookie did to him, Lewis was, overall, on the same level than Alonso. And Lewis rates Sutil as a better and faster driver than himself, for instance.What team would want a driver as Alonso? Seriously, with rookies of the Lewis caliber all around, cheap and moldeable?And despite all of his experience, I gather from here and there that he is not the engineering oriented type, he basically just expects the car is fast, and does little to improve it, as opposed to De la Rosa.Of course, he could always do a Villeneuve.And, of course, there's the Ferrari rumor thing, wich I really think is silly. Date Added: 22/02/2008
Don Speekingleesh Funny, I've always thought Alonso has shown an interest in setups and car development. Unlike Hamilton who's actually said he has no real interest in that sort of thing.(I've just been listening to the BBC R5 interview with Piquet from Monza - and it's clear as anything he knew he had a contract at that stage. Lots of talk of 2008, and a hurriedly added "if I get a drive"...) Date Added: 22/02/2008
Arnet I have to agree with Haplo. I think Alonso's talent shines when his temperament is managed and massaged. Dennis, like Williams and Head, doesn't babysit like Flavio does with his favourites. Alonso needs to be in a car that works, and needs to be, frankly, in a good mood. See Canada. Also, it's clear that he can't function in top form if he's looking over his shoulder at his teammate, let alone following him.One think I forgot to mention is how surprised I am to see Red Bull showing the way they are. I just never really expected much from them, and always regarded Newey as brilliant, but requiring a strong engineer to work alongside, like Head. Perhaps he has that with Geoff Willis, who oversaw the creation of the best car Honda/BAR ever fielded. Drivers are no slouch either. Looks promising. Date Added: 22/02/2008
Clive Looks like it's all been happening while I was away. I'll try to catch up!As far as Alonso's set up skills are concerned, he certainly thinks they're worth something or he wouldn't have been moaning about Hamilton getting to see his set up last year. And I presume that he thinks it's his skill in this area that gives him the famous extra six tenths.It seems to me that he is probably right, or Ron would have told him that he should wake up and smell the coffee. Whether we like it or not, I think there's no doubt the man is an accomplished F1 driver. Most likely he will stay ahead of Piquet this year - but it seems Nelsinho is happy to learn and he should get faster all the time therefore. If they both stay with Renault next, that is when the fireworks will start.And I'm really pleased with Williams' showing so far - although I admit that's partly because, when Ferrari look like they're going to walk it, I'll accept help from any quarter! Date Added: 22/02/2008
Journeyer The Ferrari rumor could have some substance to it. It all boils down to two things: first, how well Massa does this season, and second, when Kimi decides to retire. If either Massa performs poorly in TC-less F1 and/or Kimi suddenly decides to retire after winning title #2, expect Alonso to bring up that performance clause in his contract. But Fernando will be forced to stay at Renault if there's no room at the Scuderia for 2009. 2010 will all depend on how Alonso does between now and then. Date Added: 23/02/2008
Steven Roy I disagree that Alonso needs Flavio massaging his ego to drive well. He drove superbly last season. I find it incredible that a driver who was clearly in turmoil at McLaren was able to drive with no apparent impairment. I don't see how anyone can look at last season and think he drove badly or that his talent did not shine through. Had he not dropped the car in a ludicrously wet race he would have been world champion. Some of his best performances came at races where there was maximum upset off the track. He almost seemed to tap into it and take energy from it.I believe Lewis Hamilton is in the same mould as Senna/Villeneuve and in a few years people are going to be amazed that Alonso could live with him over a season. I think the only reason Alonso's driving last season is being questioned is because he couldn't dispose of a rookie team mate. Make no mistake that was no ordinary rookie. That was one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport. People will argue that it is too early to make a statement like that but I said after his third F1 race that he would dominate F1 for the next decade so now I am very comforable that my assessments of him since he drove F3 are accurate. Date Added: 23/02/2008
Haplo Well Steven, you really couldn't drive bad last year's McLaren. So even when Alonso was in the middle of all his bullshit, he drive very good because he had one of the best cars of the grid.Let's see now how he manages the midfield. Date Added: 25/02/2008
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