ING Renault F1 Team Fan Site

Our set-up is almost complete here at the Hungaroring circuit in Budapest and we're all set for the weekend to begin...

The first thing to mention is the weather forecast for the weekend, which predicts hot temperatures, just like we had last week in Jerez. And judging by the temperature at the moment, I can confirm that we can expect the usual Hungary heat.

My start to the morning was complicated, to say the least. A dead battery in my car caused all sorts of complications and I ended up taking an impromptu taxi ride with Nelson in my efforts to get to the track. But what followed was a trip around most of Budapest as Nelson seemed to forget the small matter of actually getting to the Hungaroring. So a quick tour of Budapest is why your blog is a little late this morning! But I'm here now.

Today's programme is very similar to a typical Thursday. Fernando and Nelson will go off for their usual walk around the track at the end of the morning. Then Nelson will speak to the press at his open media call, while Fernando will attend the official FIA Press Conference which he has been invited to. The first meeting with the engineers will then follow to bring an end to the first day.

The atmosphere is always quite chilled in Budapest...it's certainly a Grand Prix with a ‘holiday' feel to it, probably because it's the last race before the summer break. And believe me, everybody in the paddock is more than ready for a few days rest during the three weeks gap to the European Grand Prix.

It's also a beautiful place to come with plenty of wonderful restaurants which always�make for entertaining evenings. So it's a Grand Prix that I especially enjoy, and we're very much looking forward to welcoming Juju to Budapest when she arrives tomorrow evening. I hope that she will have a fantastic weekend.

I will try and keep you up to date with all the news from the paddock and will take plenty of photos across the weekend to capture the mood for you.

enjoy your weekend rf1pp,and hopefully a succes one!!!

Wishing both drivers and the team a great weekend - taking a taxi tour around Budapest with Nelson sounds like a pretty good way to start the day!

Sorry for your complicated start RF1, but I know Our Dear RF1 PP has enough strength to deal with the bloggers

Hope tomorrow the boys start without problems and I wish best luck to my favourite driver Fernando for the whole weekend***

That dead battery was ment to be because you guys deserve some sight seeing after all the hard work!

It will be very interesting, especially after last race, to see how Nelson and Fernando will do on a track that they both like and had great results on.
I watched hungary 2006 again which was an amazing drive by Fernando.

Good luck with your car RF1PP

hah, what a great blog - thank you rf1pp...it's been eagerly awaited! It's been TOO quiet around here...but no doubt come Saturday it will be in full flow by then

I'm at work, so I'll post later in the evening.

Ciao for now!

Happy birthday fernando even two days later and best wishes.Hope to see you again to the top with renault.

Engine freeze loopholes frustrate Briatore
http://www.f1way.com/news/2008/july/30/e ...

Alonso agrees - engine freeze has hurt Renault
http://www.f1way.com/news/2008/july/31/a ...

in 2009 McLaren-Ferrari-BMW will be even more faster than all the other teams cause of their engines, next year the aero will not be a very important factor...

anyway, GO FERNANDO, GO NELSON !

what does Biatore wont to say with that?That he accept that we are midlle team now?

Wishing u guys all the best this weekend!

perhaps nelson should be a little bit keener to get to the track so he can improve his performances?? or am i being too mean?

rup

@Omonia good question. I was asking that myself..

with the engine testing by the fia, i would assume probably wrongly that part of the test would be time on a dyno to make sure that output has not increased so confirming that no performance gains had occurred due to any 'reliability' updates.. otherwise what is the point??

rup

@14

surely he is pointing out that several other teams are cheating filth who have abused the engine development legislation... can't see any other way to interrupt what he has said..

Hi guys, yes, the blog has been something of a ghost town for the past few days. But with the race weekend fast approaching, I hope all that will change.

Both drivers have been on good form today. They both recently celebrated their birthdays (Nelson 23 and Fernando 27) and enjoyed spending time with their friends and family.

Of course, Nelson had to go to South Africa at the weekend for the Roadshow event in Johannesburg . He was there with Lucas Di Grassi and they both had a lot of fun. They did some excellent donuts and gave the crowd an amazing display.

And Nelson is also still on a high after his podium in the last race. He�s determined to build on the momentum of this result and have another strong weekend. If he can repeat the sort of form he showed here in GP2, then who knows what is possible.

The heat that we are experiencing should suit the team because we did so much running in scorching Jerez last week. We will have to see how the soft and super-soft tyres cope with the conditions tomorrow, but we usually have hot conditions here so this is nothing out of the ordinary.

GO RENAULT
GO FERNANDO
GO NELSON

Interesting that you should bring up the Hungarian Grand Prix of 2006, Nandofan � perhaps the most exciting race at the Hungaroring ever! Jenson Button took the spoils that day, but Fernando had the race in the bag until a wheel nut failed. I remember Bob and Alan made reference to this race in the last podcast.

Fernando was mighty in those opening laps. I can still remember the battle he had with Michael Schumacher, eventually slipping past the German. Mega stuff.

through the outside! He simply was on another planet.

Dont get too excited about 2006, remember every other Hungarian GP in the last decade or so.

The weather forecast for the weekend isnt suggesting a wet race as far as I can see, so prepare yourselves for a dull one. Its like Monaco, without Monaco ...

Thanks for the reality check, Dray. It's a good point you make as overtaking is so difficult at this track, and very often races can turn into processions.

Dear Everybody!!!!! In the name of all the Hungarians I whish all the success and good health to Fernando on his birthday, and the same applies to Nelson as well, obviously. As a Hungarian my heart is crying sitting in London and watching the race on my telly only. Who said life is fair? Please don't write the Hungaroring down, as it always has been kind to Ferni, (2003, 2006 just to name some) Fair enough, it can be dull at some point, but our track is one of the last mohicans. (Mind you what's happened to Silverstone recently) This is our 23rd GP (hard to beleive) Not counting the 1938 one at Nepliget with Nuvolari with Auto Union. Including that this is the 24th Hungarian Granp Prix. Guys, whether you like it or hate it, its History. Dear RF1 Paddock Pass! Warm thanks for your enthusiasm for the Hungarian restaurants, shame I can't be there, otherwise I could prove, our cuisine is world leader, and I'll invite everyone for a doze of Goulash (in Hungarian Gulyas) or the famous fish soup with paprika. (Don't forget to have and taste some Tokaji Aszu dessert wine! God Bless You all, Toma Ferni and RF1!!!

Hi Cagnazzo, thanks for the tips on Hungarian cuisine. I've taken note. Speaking of which, it's dinner time... Will keep an eye out for the fish soup!

R28 car 3D
http://www.ing-renaultf1.com/en/index200 ...
This is great!!!Thanks RF1

Has anyone read today FIA press conference. I can't help thinking there is some hidden meaning between FA and Heikki about their wife/girlfriends making decisions for them. I'm thinking there may be some hidden banter about maybe McLaren telling their driver's what to do?

@26 this was the weirdest press confy i ever read from Fernando. I have no idea what this was all about, but it seems they both had something psychological going on there.

Tell me about it! I had to read it a few times and it suddenly clicked...maybe FA was making fun of the McLaren "regime" but by using his wife as a code because I think FA was told by McLaren that they would take legal action if he told the press about how the team works...pretty funny nonetheless!

Hello RF1 Fans.
since RF1 has now 999 F1 GP points, lets hope to add a good amount more to that this weekend.

@28 yep could be. Very interesting- we know how much Fernando likes to play 'mindgames'. Now if that was one, it was indeed a very funny one- the more when you read Heikki's answers!

Talking about the press conference, I really don't think there is anything deeply hidden in FA's and HK's words. It was just the simple worldwide known fact that when you get married your wife takes control of family (team, as they were refering to it) decisions. Heiki claims he is still in charge of his holiday plans and Alonso just tells him it'll take no more than two years before "team" orders apply

Have these been posted?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAlqp_AnO ... - I just love the limo exhaust part

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq6RcvaEs ...

after the day I've had its nice to come back to a mellow but 'comfy' blog.

Yeah, I read the press conference and it felt uncomfortable and amusing to read at same time!

lol I have NO idea what Fernando and Heikki were playing at, but it was clearly half to do with the McLaren team orders business (Heikki mocking the press) and half underlying banter between the two friends!

Some things were rather interesting though....lol not least of all how much under the thumb he admits to being! :p

Anyhoo, I hear some sad news is coming from Enstone. I won't ask too many questions rf1pp, but if you have any news you could give us, it'd be appreciated.

I'll keep tabs tomorrow...

Oh and I just booked my tickets for Race of Champions...I SO wish Nelson and Fernando would do it! Both could easily make their own national teams with enough drivers/riders around. Wishful thinking I know...