02 December: The
Week at Renault F1: December 2, 2005
Championship celebrations in Paris, debutants in Barcelona and a Monaco launch in 2006:
the round-up of the week at Renault F1 Team.
Rounding the year off in style The Renault F1 Team’s double world
championship victory in 2005 was an historic achievement for the company. It marked the first time that a mass-market automobile
manufacturer has triumphed in Formula 1, and for Renault, the two titles were the first won with a 100% Renault car. On November 30,
the team took the chance to celebrate, with Renault Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn alongside Patrick Faure, Flavio Briatore, Fernando
Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella. “We have not only demonstrated that Renault can deliver sporting performance at the very highest
level,” explained Mr Ghosn. “It also shows that company can plan, organise and succeed in our projects very quickly. We must now
exploit this success to tell people about Renault, that Renault are champions, and to show our customers that the reliability and
technical excellence of our Formula 1 cars is also that of the products we sell.” Full press
release
30 November Podcasts The Renault F1 Team has made available its first official team podcast, following
the championship celebration event on 30 November. Two video files can be downloaded: A general video of the celebration event, and
an exclusive interview with Fernando Alonso. These can be obtained by following
this link, using iTunes or appropriate software.
The World Champion – just the same guy… Since becoming
World Champion, Fernando Alonso has fielded one question more than any other: has it changed your life? The Spaniard has responded
patiently to each one, but always with the same answer – no. But why not? Why has achieving his life-long dream not changed him or
his life? “You know, when you are a young child, I think everybody dreams of being the best in the world at something,” Fernando
explained on Wednesday. “So to have been the best in the world this year is a dream come true. But I haven’t bought anything
special to mark the championship – I come from a modest family, we don’t have the life of rich people, so I don’t need
something expensive because I don’t know how to use it in my life. But the win hasn’t changed me because I still feel the same
way about driving: I want to beat everybody. I am world champion for 2005, yes, but 2006 is a news season, and I want to be the best
then. And in 2007. And 2008. I am a very competitive person at everything in my life, and next year will be a new chapter for me.”
Debutants
in Barcelona As the Renault F1 Team celebrated the achievement of a lifelong dream in Paris, two young men were huddled in
the Renault F1 Team motorhome in Barcelona, in cold weather, waiting to begin their first ever drive of a Formula 1 car. Robert
Kubica and Giorgio Mondini, respectively 2005 World Series by Renault Champion and 2004 Formula Renault V6 Eurocup Champion, got
their first taste of F1 at the wheel of the world championship winning R25. Each completed a half day of running with the team,
completing around 40 laps in difficult, cool conditions at the Circuit de Catalunya. At the end of the day, Chief Test Engineer
Christian Silk gave his verdict: “Both drivers were faced with a very big jump to adapt to the car, but they took a very mature
approach and worked with their engineers to understand and improve the car. Robert and Giorgio have acquitted themselves very well
today.” The full debrief from Christian Silk can be read
here while driver interviews are available here
Renault
F1 Team plans Monaco launch for 2006 The Renault F1 Team is pleased to announce that the official launch and presentation of
the 2006 car and season will be held in Monaco, on Tuesday, 31 January 2006. This will come after the track debut of the R26 car
which will defend the team’s world championship titles, which is planned to run for the first time on 10 January, 2006 in Jerez.
