Posts Tagged Renault

After two very disappointing seasons, Renault will be hoping to bounce back in 2009 with the new regulations. Once again, the regulations have been interpreted in a new and very unique way. The most striking feature of the new R29 is its very wide nose section. Renault is also one of the only teams who have opted to keep the shark fine section over the engine.

The Renault engine has been upgraded under supervision of the FIA, in order to make up for the performance shortfall it had since the freeze in engine development. It should now deliver roughly the same amount of power than the units from Ferrari and Mercedes. Renault is expecting to run its KERS system in Australia, which is also the same electrical design as most of the other teams.

The team’s drivers remain the same as in 2009 – Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet. There is no doubt that Alonso will extract the maximum performance out of the chassis and engine that is available. Many still think of Alonso as the best-rounded driver in the pack, with him being the only driver racing in 2009 who has won the driver’s championship more than once. Piquet is now only in his second season in F1, and it looks like he is stepping up his game after a horrendous 2008. He has virtually matched Alonso’s times in testing, and seems much more mature behind the wheel.

What are Renault’s chances of having a great 2009 season? That is difficult to say. Through testing they have slowly improved their car, up to the second last day of testing when they eclipsed even the surprisingly competitive Brawn. Since testing began no team has been able to post a better lap time than the Brawn, so if these lap-times is a reflection of true pace (which it may not be), the Renault will be right up at the front of the field.