Renault technical director James Allison praised the performance of driver Robert Kubica for getting the maximum from the R30 in the opening races of 2010.
Allison said:
I don’t think Robert has made a single significant mistake so far this year. He’s locked up the odd wheel here and there, but during the races he has been pretty much faultless. Having a driver who can maintain a very fast and consistent pace is just what any team needs and it’s something we’re very happy about.
James Allison
Kubica is sixth in the drivers’ championship, tied on points with Felipe Massa, though Renault are only fifth in the constructors’ championship.
With more new parts arriving for the R30 this weekend the team are expecting a strong race at the track where Kubica scored his maiden win in 2008:
I think we will be in reasonable shape. There are aspects of the track that will suit us very well. Most of the corners are low speed and you need to be able to hammer across the kerbs quite aggressively, which is something the R30 is good at. The circuit is also very demanding on the brakes, but we are confident that we will be able to attack the circuit even on the very heavy fuel loads that are run in 2010. We will have further updates to the car and I would hope that we can take another step forward in Canada.
James Allison
Renault have made rapid progress with their car this year and will bring new low-downforce wings for the Montreal race. Allison said:
It’s absolutely flat out all the time. Over the last few months it has been every bit as busy as the most intense period of the new car build during the winter. And that intensity will continue for the rest of the year.
This workload is felt at all levels in the team: the factory take up the continuous, unrelenting pressure of delivering the new parts, and the race team then shoulder the burden of fitting them at the circuit and ensuring that we get the most from them in the races.
It’s tiring work for all concerned and we don’t underestimate how much we’re asking from people, but the rewards come from seeing the fruits of all our labour on the track as we creep forward race by race.
James Allison
Read more: Renault aiming to beat Mercedes
Magnificent Geoffrey
7th June 2010, 11:44
I thought that BMW would challenge for the title in 2009 – I was wrong.
I thought that Renault would struggle in 2010, following the scandal of last year and the departure of Alonso – I am being proven wrong every race.
I thought that Robert Kubica would become recognised as a top-tier F1 driver… maybe I might get something right for once.
Alex White
7th June 2010, 13:50
“I thought that Robert Kubica would become recognised as a top-tier F1 driver… maybe I might get something right for once”
Well – If you predict he wont be world champion 2011… Well, you never know :D
Scribe
7th June 2010, 12:14
I hate it when a “party line” become obvious in F1. Renault have been saying this to anyone who’ll listen since the end of the fly aways. All to keep him presumably so don’t blame them for that.
Patrickl
7th June 2010, 15:35
On the other hand, all this praise for Kubica might make it more likely for a top team to snap him up though.
Arun Srini
7th June 2010, 12:17
How about Massa out of Ferrari and Kubica in next year?
Shimks
7th June 2010, 12:38
Kubica and Alonso are the best of friends. Kubica learnt his racing in Italy, his racing home – not Poland – and speaks the lingo fluently. Kubica is one of the best drivers in F1 today.
Kubica will be at Ferrari, I have absolutely no doubts about it. But when?
What a fantastic pairing they would be!
OEL
7th June 2010, 12:39
Why would Kubica want to go to Ferrari when the Renault is faster?
MouseNightshirt
7th June 2010, 13:24
Because, let’s face it, Ferrari have huge resources and can be trusted to get ahead. And this from someone who dislikes Ferrari.
Chris Y
7th June 2010, 15:19
Unfortunately, that’s what we all said last year. They probably will get ahead sometime, but when?
PJA
7th June 2010, 15:49
It can be hard judging which team will have the best car next season, just look at how much some teams performances vary from year to year. However I would say Ferrari are the team most likely to have a winning car most seasons.
Also some drivers want to drive for Ferrari because they are Ferrari and all the history that entails.
I could see Ferrari trying to sign Kubica to partner Alonso if they think that driver pairing is the best one for the team, but unless Massa is massively outperformed by Alonso I don’t think they will drop him, after all he is well liked by the team, and Massa has said he has overcome the issues he had with the tyres.
Red Andy
7th June 2010, 15:17
They are trying very hard to keep him, aren’t they?
str8y
7th June 2010, 15:24
Oh dear.( The commentators curse strikes again)
Whats the odds Robert will crash out at Canada this weekend. Hope it won’t be as bad as 2007 !
Icthyes
7th June 2010, 20:18
I thought his reaction to that was probably the quote of the season.
“Have you seen it on the replay?” a journalist asked him.
“Yes” he replied “but I have also seen it live, when I was in the car.”
Classic :)
HG
8th June 2010, 0:16
ha, briliant, never heard that before :)
DJ Senna
7th June 2010, 18:41
james allison: he madebno mistakes.
yeah, if you cobsider kubica spinning into kobayashi in spain NOT being a mistake. what a joke.
velvet_demon
7th June 2010, 19:29
OMG one mistake! Still less than anyone else in this season. And that’s no joke, that’s a fact.
Electrolite
7th June 2010, 20:51
What a joke? What an overreaction on your part, more like!
bisutommy
8th June 2010, 17:55
Witch f1 Gp in Barcelona did you watched??
Bartholomew
7th June 2010, 21:37
Renault is a great team and they deserve success. They do a lot with less. Man for man, much better than Ferrari
HG
8th June 2010, 0:11
“stay with us robert, don’t ever leave! We can change”