Valencia: The keys to the race with Pat Symonds

Sunday 24 August 2008, 11:38:00 | RF1 Paddock Pass

. Valencia . Pat Symonds

The Executive Director of Engineering for the ING Renault F1 Team looks ahead to the European Grand Prix.

 

 

Pat, how has the weekend gone for the team so far?
To start with, it's important to underline that we have found nothing particularly surprising since arriving here in Valencia. We had prepared well for this race, used all the information available, completed our simulations, and studied videos of previous races held at this track. We also had access to certain telemetry data from a Formula 3 car and that helped us determine the ideal corner trajectories. So when we finally took to the track, we were not surprised by what we found.

The grip levels seemed very poor on Friday...
Yes. That's probably the only aspect that surprised us a bit. Usually on a street circuit the grip is quite poor...but it was even less that expected in Valencia. Furthermore, the grip levels have not stopped evolving and I think that will continue throughout the race: the track is gaining in grip bit-by-bit, just as it does in Monaco.

What are the most important parameters to monitor?
The tyres and the brakes.

Are you happy with the solutions you've found in those areas?
More or less. For the brakes, we have been working on this since Friday. The braking was problematic in Montreal and we didn't want to encounter similar problems this weekend. In terms of tyres, the situation is a bit more confusing. Because of the rain which washed the circuit clean on Friday evening, we went back to zero yesterday and that affected everyone. You certainly saw that in qualifying with lots of drivers using different types of tyres. On the grid for the start of the race, the choice of tyres should be more varied than usual.

What are the team's ambitions?
As I was saying earlier, the circuit here in Valencia has various aspects in common with Montreal. The chances of seeing the safety car intervene are quite high and so you have to take that into account when you are deciding the strategy. We didn't have a particularly good qualifying and we are starting quite far back, but we are ready to seize the slightest opportunity in the race.

In what way?
For Nelson, it will be important to make a good start and then to see how the race develops to try and make the most of any chances. For Fernando, the most important factor is Kazuki Nakajima. If we can get in front of him on the opening lap, then we will have the possibility to have a solid race and maybe score some points. If not, it will be more complicated.

Is there the opportunity to pass on this circuit?
In theory, turns 8, 12 and 17 offer opportunities, but I don't think we will see much. In my opinion, the best place to try something is the last corner as we saw a few manoeuvres there in GP2. The rest of the track can be easy to make a mistake on and so you may be able to force your rival into a mistake by putting pressure on him and gain a position that way.

Comments

---

1. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 12:30:32 by NandoFan

They say it rained again last night which will make the track very tricky and slippery again. This will give some extra opportunities for our guys, I hope!
Between turn 24 and 25 will be the easiest spot to overtake since you have to break hard in 24 and go to the outside again to have a good exit on turn 25. It should be quite easy to put your car on the inside of turn 25. )

---

2. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 12:34:27 by NandoFan

Here are some pictures of Nelson catching a bird at the start of Q2.



http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/4069/pi ...
http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/8985/pi ...
http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/1274/ ...

---

3. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 12:59:51 by adam20692

hmmm tasty lol

---

4. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 13:04:12 by adam20692

is it just me or does anyone else think its unfair how glock hasnt been penalised for holding up people? considering others have been penalised for much less ie kovalainen with webber

---

5. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 13:04:54 by f1angel

Poor bird!
Anyway, Good Luck to the team today! u guys are gonna need it!

---

6. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 13:19:59 by Tony

Hello all. I had a day at the tract yesterday to watch the qualifying and GP2 etc. Like all of you I was extremely dissappointed not to see both Fernando and Nelson go into Q3.

My first time at a street circuit and must confess was left alittle dissappointed. I was in Tribune 18. Not good for viewing which I thought it would be. Still the noise, smell, and other fans helped make it better.
Thanks RF1 for your previous remarks and now we look forward to a good race. Piquet came 2nd not so long ago from a similar position.

---

7. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 13:28:10 by Tony

Did anybody else watch Fernando and Antonio from Telecinco, FA was answering question, some of his answers were very interesting.

---

8. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 13:40:01 by RF1 Paddock Pass

Sorry to hear that your day at the track did not live up to your expectations. At least you can watch the race on TV. Not long to go now.

---

9. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 13:44:54 by Tony

Thanks RF1, not long now. I wish you and the team all the best of luck. I am sure we will get a good result. My fingers are crossed.

---

10. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 13:48:05 by Tony

Pretty certain our drivers have full tanks of fuel and will go for one stop stategy. FA is starting on the dirty side of the track and reakons he could lose a place or two at the start due to weight and dirty track.

---

11. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 13:52:32 by manuStudio

No rain. blue sky.

---

12. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 13:53:01 by manuStudio

Massa first to pit stop at lap 15-16

---

13. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 13:54:23 by RF1 Paddock Pass

The start will be vital. As Pat says getting in front of the Williams of Nakajima is important, but starting on the dirty side of the track won't make it easy.

I reckon starting heavy is the way to go - the team did a lot of running on heavy tanks in free practice and showed good pace. Then we can adapt our strategy around the almost certain safety car periods.

---

14. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 13:57:12 by Tony

Thanks RF1, only 5 mins to the start. First object a clean start and no incident with our cars in first corner.

---

15. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:05:55 by manuStudio

Finish for Alonso.

---

16. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:06:13 by manuStudio

This sux

---

17. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:07:38 by Tony

Who mentioned Nakajima earlier!!!!!

---

18. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:08:00 by f1angel

Damn u Nakajima! That's it! Fernando's done! I don't see why they should keep him in the car!

---

19. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:08:08 by Tony

We need a SC now

---

20. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:12:59 by manuStudio

they will save Alonso's engine for Spa.

---

21. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:14:04 by Tony

FA out of the car. Says he has damage to suspension, gears and take more than an hour to repair. What bad luck he is having. Still we still have Nelson out there racing for a position.

---

22. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:14:40 by Ayrton1992F1

what to say, what to say...

WHY always something happen to fernando?
this is not teams fault dont worry i wont blame you
this idiot kicked fernando like he wanted to !

pff it seems i wont see f1 anymore this season at least, its the worst season ever for fernando alonso, he was better in minardi in 2001

---

23. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:14:49 by f1angel

Fernando's out of the car! He's done! Very big disappointment! I hope karma hits Nakajima hard!

---

24. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:16:16 by Ayrton1992F1

one thing is ridiculous, and it is nelson...

i cant understand what he does, he's slower than the force india!

---

25. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:16:18 by MO1023

Yeah Fernando is out thanks to Nakajima, but this is F1 these things happen let's not get too angry about it hopefully Piquet has more luck

---

26. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:17:20 by Witch

What a big disappointment after 3 week break

---

27. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:17:59 by RF1 Paddock Pass

That's so frustrating. Seems that Nakajima was the key to our race! Let's see what Nelson can do.

---

28. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:21:22 by Ayrton1992F1

sorry RF1PP but with his speed now he will finish last..
he's very very slow

---

29. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:27:35 by MO1023

Nakajima had completely ruined our race, he just came in way too hot and went write into the back of poor fernando infront of his home fans...If I was him I would stay in that car becuase alot angry fans will be after him.

---

30. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:28:19 by Tony

Come on we still have Nelson out there, currently 16th but he has full tank and anything can happen to help get him up to the points.

I agree f1angel, Karma will get Nakajima for sure !!

---

31. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:37:20 by Ayrton1992F1

one thing is sure, if we dont get podiums in next races bye-bye fourth place in constructors, its more likely for us to finish sixth as wiliams seem to be extremely improved, see rosberg, he's currently fourth!

---

32. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:40:30 by Tony

Rosberg is 10th

---

33. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:42:55 by Tony

Lots can still happen were not half way through the race

---

34. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:43:17 by manuStudio

What are the chances now that Nelson's only pitstop happens durring the only SC perriod, lap 30-

---

35. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:45:33 by Lengskee

its the not the same watching F1 without Alonso racing...=(

Just hope Nelson finishes the race, with points if his lucky.

Looking forward to the next race.

---

36. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:48:01 by DOF-power

Heaven help us if this is Bernie's "the future".
F1 needs Fuji and Suzuka types of tracks not this type of garbage.


Not a single pass after the first lap. This is as bad as Monaco 2007.

---

37. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:48:22 by manuStudio

Great Nelson front wing is broken

---

38. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:48:42 by dilettante

What a tragedy... atleast Fernando have engine saved for Spa. Only Trulli is in point scoring position. Let's hope he meets some problem due in race.
I'm not seeing any overtaking and am getting bored

---

39. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:49:26 by teomolca

Piquet has the top lip of the front wing broken. Nothing to do.
So Permane was wrong, the weekend was over yesterday after quali.

---

40. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:49:38 by MO1023

Nelsons bridge-wing is hanging of which would explain his pace lets hope for a miracle

---

41. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:49:59 by bughiman

@36 i completely agree whit you

---

42. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:52:02 by manuStudio

maybe they should bring Nelson in to save his engine too.

---

43. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:55:08 by bughiman

nelson seems to be ok he is currently 11th

---

44. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:56:19 by manuStudio

But he should stop very soon

---

45. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:58:14 by MO1023

Yawn, this circuit is nothing spectacular. I wasn't expecting much overtaking from a street circuit but no accidents nothing interesting happening... yet

---

46. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:58:25 by Lengskee

go nelson! anything is possible.

---

47. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 14:58:37 by bughiman

thats true but im trying to be optimistic

---

48. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 15:00:04 by bughiman

nelson is in the pits

---

49. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 15:05:16 by dilettante

Whats the point in making speed circuit wide when there is no overtaking? No crashes even...it's getting more boring than typical Monaco.

---

50. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 15:08:26 by manuStudio

Massa under investigation

---

51. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 15:18:22 by dilettante

Kimi just awarded Trulli more points...it can't get worse.

---

52. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 15:21:57 by manuStudio

Well done ferrari, 2 races, 2 engines.

---

53. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 15:23:08 by MO1023

That incident with the Ferrari mechanic looked very serious, I hope he is ok. Ferrari should definetly get rid of that automated system and stick to a lolly pop man its caused a casualty and a a potential penalty for massa. Terrible day for Ferrari now with Kimi out - Engine Failure. Oh dear

---

54. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 15:28:23 by Tony

What a boring race. I agree with some of the above comments, if this is Bernie's idea of a race circuit then we'd all better look for another sport to support. It may be good for the drivers but for spectators it is terrible. So many spectators were complaining yesterday. Trouble is you can only see about 100 mts of track infront of you. It is impossible to walk around and you feel like a prisoner in a pound. Can't get out like at a normal circuit. No mi gusta. Cheste es mucho mejor. Cheste up the road is so much better.

---

55. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 15:28:29 by teomolca

The light system is a good idea takes out human error out of handling the exit and worked fine. Raikkonen didn't wait for the green light, it's his mistake.

---

56. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 15:30:37 by Tony

We're forgetting Piquet is still running and is currently 11th

---

57. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 15:33:32 by MO1023

the mechanic is actually a she my mistake, not seen much of nelson. just remember toyota could have terrible luck and score nothing and we could score alot of points. All I'm saying is don't rule Renault or anybody out, still alot of races to look forward to including a nite race which I believe renault could do well at.

---

58. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 15:38:54 by Ayrton1992F1

@56

owwww, how nice
11th place bravo nelson

...

lol

if we dont get a podium in spa (i tell it again) bye bye fourth place in constructors, toyota extended the lead a lot!

---

59. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 15:43:52 by Diki

Well done to Felipe and Nelson was very good but he had problem with his front wing...

---

60. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 15:47:28 by MO1023

@55 Ferrari's light system works like this. It is actually controlled by humans, the mechanics press a button when they are ready and once all a the buttons are pressed a green light goes on. The re-fueler could have pressed the button but her re-fueler got stuck so its already to late because kimi is eager to go as soon as the green light is on, a lolly pop man can see whats going on and stop the driver before its too late, a green light can't.

---

61. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 15:55:39 by dilettante

It's good RF1 combined Budapest and Valencia podcast. They wouldn't have had anything to say if it was just Valencia.

---

62. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 15:58:31 by adam20692

its one race im not to fussed maybe on another day. Spa should be another dissapointed more of a ferrari track and so on. So whats the track after that. Italy suppose that might be another dissapointment. Hopefully from singapour onwards we should beable to score good points. We will see dont get to down due to this race renault did there best so did the drivers what more can we ask for!

---

63. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 15:59:34 by MO1023

@61 lol true

---

64. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 16:03:27 by adam20692

also to all you people who think grosjean is the best option lucas has proved you all wrong again. If alonso leaves next season it should be lucas who takes the seat. He is the most consistant and quickest at the moment

---

65. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 16:04:56 by manuStudio

Me thinks that the team line up will not change.

---

66. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 16:10:29 by Ayrton1992F1

@65 with this conditions, as we see vettel and toyota and williams shine, alonso will not stay, thats for sure

as for the engine, its true, you can see the difference in the low rpm, that mclaren flies, and renault can't do anything..

---

67. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 16:10:49 by adam20692

actualy you could say quite alot. Raikkonen the start alonso and piquets start nakajima and alonso piquets drive despite dodgy front wing massa's brilliant drive controversy in pitland how there was no saftey cars and what went wrong this weekend so you know stop being so negative all the time

---

68. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 16:11:14 by adam20692

well not negative probs not the best way to describe it but you know lol

---

69. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 16:12:37 by MO1023

@ 65 I wouldn't be so sure, espesially if Renault don't finish fourth in the constructors which is thought to be worth an extra 20 million. Renault need to show Fernando they can win races next year, hopefully they can.

---

70. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 16:12:57 by manuStudio

@66 but Toyota, Rebbull, williams, don't want Alonso.

---

71. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 16:16:36 by Tony

Having been at the Valencia track yesterday, and watched the qualifying, also the GP2 race and other supporting races, I must confess I was not impressed as a spectator in the slightest. For sure the drivers may like the track and its layout but not me. Once you enter your seating area you cannot move to another area. Where I was T.18 all we had were a couple of bars and a load of porta loos. Nothing else. I think to get to the commercial area, you had to leave your zone, being booked out, walk kms to enter another area and maybe you would have the energy to get back to your seat to watch the race. No NOT a spectator circuit. Sorry I live just down the road so it is only 1 hour away but I will not go again. As for the racing, did any driver actually overtake another ? If so I did not see it. Oh and well done to Nelson who finished the race. Not our day eh!! Perhaps next time.

---

72. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 16:17:37 by Diki

Early exit for Alonso in Valencia
Two races in Spain this year and two withdrawals," said Alonso ruefully.

"Lady Luck shone on me the two years I was fighting for the title (2005 and 2006), but now I´m having a lot of ill fortune," he told Spanish broadcaster Telecinco.
http://www.f1way.com/news/2008/august/24 ...

---

73. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 16:20:49 by MO1023

@66 While I get what your saying there is no use geting angry at Renault when all they did was follow the rules of the engine freeze and not develop there engine while other teams were bending the rules hmm

---

74. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 16:29:12 by amc

I'm trying to refrain from posting my feelings of this weekend...

I think I'll hold back until I've calmed down and maybe post later tonight.

Comiserations everyone. One day it will happen for us...

---

75. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 16:33:38 by MO1023

BREAKING NEWS - Nakajima is now the most popular man in Spain bravo

---

76. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 16:41:21 by manuStudio

Lewis got boowed on the podium

---

77. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 16:42:46 by dilettante

@75
Well, he's making sure that Sato ain't needed in F1...we have another crazy crashing sponsored driver. It's unfortunate that he can keep racing (crashing) for years while others like Davidson have to take a back seat.
Can anyone count how many front wings he lost this season? and please count Brazil 2007 pit incident too.

---

78. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 16:43:57 by marsiandeneersten

This race sucked after 3 (three) weeks of impatiend waiting.
The track is not good for the spectators, Nakajima ruined Fernando's race and Nelson did what he could but it just wasn't enough.
Luckily we have Spa comming up, a track which I as a Belgiam am proud off!
Go Renault Go (so we can keep Fernando...)

---

79. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 16:44:28 by clemo

I am trying to think of something positive to type but....no ....

more bad luck for Fernando...no points for Renault...4th place looking less likely with each finish ...and that, with the exceptions of the pit incidents, must have been the most boring race for a long time...was there even any proper overtaking?

Fancy waiting with anticipation for 3 weeks for that..

Ahh I hope luck changes around ..The team and especially Fernando could do with just a little right now..roll on the next
race...it can only get better (thats my bit of positive thinking!)

---

80. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 16:53:42 by dilettante

@80
Umm...I don't share the same view...although I have my reservations about Sato and Nakajima, this dosen't generalize anything.

---

81. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 16:58:44 by clemo

@80
I know we are all feeling very disappointed just now, but don't think it is fair to blame an entire nation for Fernandos misfortunes this afternoon!

---

82. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 17:06:45 by MO1023

@80 that's taking things several steps too far very rude indeed, you can't account to peoples actions for a whole nation. I'm sure Nakajima was sorry and it didn't really help his race either

---

83. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 17:08:01 by em7

@ 80, don-vicenzo, whilst I understand your disappointment, I think your post is completely inappropriate.
---

Today was bad! What to do?? Seriously, what can be done to improve the Renault engine? I hope Spa produces a much better result for us.

P.S. I found that race to be rather boring. Hope the Ferrari guy's going to be ok. Hope our team's going to be ok too!!

---

84. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 17:13:20 by dilettante

@84
yeah..that looked painful indeed. Hoping for some good news in Ferrari post race review.

---

85. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 17:14:59 by Tony

Help please RF1 come and stabalize the ship or we'll sink and that cannot happen.

Bad Day for all of us, Nakajima, well what can I say. It is not the first, second, third, forth or however many times he has collided with another driver.

Unfortunately today it was FA and inthe first corner. Thats where qualifying comes into play. The higher up you are the less likely you are to be outed in the first corner, not always though.

We're not having a good day, that is for sure but it was not the fault of RenaultF1.

Remember FA could have got into Q3 had HE not made a small mistake that cost him dearly, and here we are talking about miliseconds. Piquet was struggling with his speed and probably was not going to get higher than Q2 but that is life. We played the cards dealt and got what we got, 12th & 15th of the grid. Worst place you can start a F1 race for incidents. FA was unlucky, he knows it more than we do but as he says be PATIENT things will turn around. It was not many years ago that neither McClaren or Ferrari could keep their cars on the track let alone win a race. Williams were on top for a long time. Renault also. So lets be patient. It will happen.

---

86. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 17:15:28 by dilettante

Pits looked really dirty. I saw a couple of drivers skidding at pitstop. It's weird teams didn't clean their pits prior to race.

---

87. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 17:17:44 by MO1023

@em7 me too, by the way the ferrari mechanic who got injured is a woman, I don't like seeing anybody geting hurt especially a woman.

---

88. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 17:19:26 by Tony

I suspect the surface in the pits was only concrete and it had not been sealed, therefore with the amount of use, speed of the cars the surface was eroded and then you were left with basically sand and cement in powder form.

---

89. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 17:19:26 by f1angel

@80, u've crossed the line my friend! What happened was bad yes, but there is no reason to make racist comments like that!

---

90. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 17:27:10 by dilettante

@89
That explains a lot...thanks

---

91. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 18:05:42 by Ayrton1992F1

@70 aka manustudio

i didnt told that they want fernando in their teams
do me a favor and see what i wrote again, it seems you cant understand what i write..

i mean that all shine, even the small teams, except from renault

toyota will be title contender next year im sure
we have the worst engine, and engines will play part next year, i dont think we're better in aerodynamics (as seen mclaren and ferrari build better cars these two years)

with the loss of dino toso i dont think that dirk de beer can build better cars
thats my opinion

sorry for being negative

anyway, we have awesome mechanics, cause if you see the onboards, the car is just very bad, they try to do something, and they finally fix many problems on it, i had fp1 and fp2 onboard, and i see the difference, and its huge

they deserve more, if we had a good engine and a good car they would have shown mclaren and ferrari who are they

they did in 2005-2006 though :P

---

92. Sunday 24 August 2008 at 18:34:54 by NandoFan

Nakajima ruined Fernando's race but that doens't mean he suddenly can't drive. He's been doing very well, just unlucky for us what happenend today.
By the way, Nakajima was 1 of the few who overtook someone (Barichell).

And Nelson couldn't go much faster than Fisi because he was right behind him with a broken wing bridge which made it even more difficult to drive close to the one in front.

No need to blame others.. if both our drivers didn't made mistakes at quali when it mattered they would have been in front competing the Toyota's, STR's and Williams..

---

93. Monday 25 August 2008 at 18:00:17 by Kiss

Good Pat, you had seen correctly that Nakajima was a dangerous.Good job for the Mponza testing,I will be here.

< Previous post Next post >

Add a comment

Comments for this post are closed