Formula 1 Jam

A couple of questions in the post race press conference clearly showed what the media is thinking… There has been indications of this before but is everyone happy inside the Renault Pits?

These were the questions that raised my curiosity… (full interview available here)

Q: (Juha Päätalo – Financial Times Germany) Fernando, on the podium you were kissing your trophy. Was it for the eight points you gained, after yesterday, or was it the gap you have gained over Räikkönen or Schumacher?
FA: I kiss the trophy normally at all the races when I finish on the podium because for me to finish on the podium means to be consistent in the championship and the key to win it again as last year is that. Yes, this race is more important than the first race to me because the championship points compared to Räikkönen and to Michael, who on paper will be the first two opponents in the championship, is good to have them at the back and to open the gap quite a big chunk here in Malaysia like I did last year in the first races. So I enjoy more these eight points maybe more than last weekend.

Q: (Andrea Cremonesi – La Gazzetta dello Sport) Giancarlo, how do you feel when you hear Fernando say that he regards Michael and Kimi as his main opponents and, for Fernando, why don’t you try to do just one stop?
GF: I don’t feel anything. I think to be there I won the race today and I have the same car as him (Alonso) and I don’t know if I am one of the opponents like Michael and Kimi, for Fernando, I don’t know. It is okay. It is fine. I try to change his mind in the future.
FA: We thought that the tyres were not consistent enough to do so many laps. We were so worried that the last laps in the first stint were too slow, but there was nothing we could do because we had the fuel there from yesterday and after that we were much more confident to do two shorter stints and I think it worked very well.

This next question hit home and Alonso clearly explained his point of view

Q: (Paul Gover – Herald Sun) Fernando, did you forget Fisi’s name when you were talking about rivals before?
FA: No, when I said this maybe you understand wrongly. When I said that I thought there were four top teams – Honda, Ferrari, McLaren and Renault – and after the first race and coming from last year, I think that they finished second in the championship and third and Michael and Räikkönen should be at the start of the season the ones who will be more competitive, but I don’t consider Fisi to be my opponent. I think that we work together as we did today and we need to score points for our team and if in the last part of the championship, in the last two or three races, we are fighting for sure as opponents, but at the moment we are not fighting how to beat the team-mate we are thinking how to beat the other teams.

Ever since Alonso has announced his decision to leave Renault for 2007 the most common question surrounding Renault has been “Is Fisichella the new no. 1 for Renault.” Now that Fisi is winning races the question had gained in status and validity.

As for who is really no. 1… Rumors sounded when Trulli left Renault that he did so because he was given 2nd best treatment… These are still rumors. Clearly Alonso has been the most successful of the two and has been with Renault for about 5 years now compared to about 15 months with Fisi.

Its not clear if Alonso is given preferential treatment, come to think of it if he was would he have chosen to leave Renault. Come to think of it among the teams that seem to give importance to one driver over the other Ferrari clearly stands out(I’m not hitting out on the Scarlet team just stating recent history), I remember once Michael getting Ruben’s car about 2 years ago because Ruben’s car was handling much better than Micheal’s on that circut… Not to mention “Team Orders” and regular building of strategy around Rubens trying to protect Michael’s lead in the World Championship.

What ever happens… its just a matter of 16 more races and few more months… Right now the sun seems to be shining on Renault (13 pts lead in Constructors championship) hope the internal sparks don’t rise to flames anytime soon.