Bye Fernando

[Principessa]

Are you so certain that Fisi will retire?

[manchild]

Yeah, he was seen buying slippers and walking stick

[icef1mkd]

yes, Renault has nothing left to prove. or maybe another constructors title, but with the best car. 2006 will be only a test for them to see wheather they're capable of staying on the top.

I think Kovalainen will beat them all, now he's on the same route like Alonso, but it will be a great shame not to race for Renault (if they withdraw).

I really wonder what will happen with him?

[manchild]

... or maybe another constructors title, but with the best car...

I think that car that won WCC and not even once had engine explosion is the best car. Fact that Mclaren was faster during second part of the seaseon up to final race but with many engine blows and other failures doesn't earns them title of "best car". When you look 2005 season from first to last race best car was R25. It had the great balance between performance and reliability and that enabled the title. Mclaren had neglected reliability over performance and if they had it balanced as much as Renault, than we’d have Mclaren with less power and overall track performance similar to Renault (it wouldn't be so fast and it wouldn't have engine blows).

[RH1300S]

... or maybe another constructors title, but with the best car...

I think that car that won WCC and not even once had engine explosion is the best car. Fact that Mclaren was faster during second part of the seaseon up to final race but with many engine blows and other failures doesn't earns them title of "best car". When you look 2005 season from first to last race best car was R25. It had the great balance between performance and reliability and that enabled the title. Mclaren had neglected reliability over performance and if they had it balanced as much as Renault, than we’d have Mclaren with less power and overall track performance similar to Renault (it wouldn't be so fast and it wouldn't have engine blows).

Hear...hear!!!! Yup, Renault was the best car this year (I think the Mclaren was most beautiful 'though ). Once Renault let themselves off the leash (after winning the championships) they showed us the pace they could have used.

[icef1mkd]

manchild,
ofcourse I agree that the R25 was the best and most complete car that had the winning foramula/balance of performance and reliability.
McLaren was the fastest car though for much of the season.

My point is that many still argue that McLaren was the fastest on the track so they deserved it more, and Renault had luck. I disagree with them, but for those who do not understand Renault must have the killer car and win in dominant style.

But the discusion is why Fernando sees greater potential in McLaren? Is it only for the cash, or he knows Renault's plans for whitdrawal so he moves in time.
Mika left McLaren in the moment he was aware that the team was to struggle. Is Fernando doing a similar move?

[manchild]

My point regarding Mclaren is that many teams could have such killer car – extremely fast on occasion but not reliable. That goes especially for Renault and Toyota. As Ron Dennis said –“To finish first, first you have to finish”. Mclaren was extremely fast most of all because of the huge power of their engine but that same engine was the reason for lack of overall success. Therefore I don’t see it as impartial to say that it was a killer car because same thing that made it killer eventually killed its chances for winning a title.

I agree bout 2006 and dominance. I’d like to see to R26 make 15 sec gap in the first lap and return from pits without loosing positions.

Regarding Fernando, I think that Renault will withdraw from F1 and that is why Fernando wants to secure good position for himself on time. When Renault returned to F1 several years ago their mission was simple – “Win WCC by 2005”. That was done including the WDC same year. If they dominate in 2006 and withdraw it will be great and even if they don’t dominate or win no one will care that much. History is already written…

[icef1mkd]

Apsolutly manchild.
I recall the mission was the WCC won by a 100% Renault car, actually to finish the job from the eighties.

But, why their strategy was to secure Fernando's title FIRST and THEN concentrate on the constructors' championship?

this tactics (that Flav and Alonso publicly revealed) is contradictory to the goal.

???

[manchild]

...But, why their strategy was to secure Fernando's title FIRST and THEN concentrate on the constructors' championship?

this tactics (that Flav and Alonso publicly revealed) is contradictory to the goal.

???

I think that was just how situation developed - I think that they became frightened for WCC because of Fisi's awfull score and focused on securing one title instead of chasing 2 titles at the same time (which would require different tactics).

If the situation didn't end so well I think that we'd hear many bad thing from Renault. This way Fisi's 4th or 5th place were described as "excelent job" etc.

When it maters public statemnts you must have in mind that there is a war going on between teams and FIA, so since Alonso is going to Mclaren and Renault probbably leaving F1 the way annoucemets are made is not to confuse fans but to confuse FIA.

It wouldn't surprise me if Renault would withdraw and Nissan took over (just officialy) same team in attempt to beat Toyaota and Honda But all we can do is to wait and see...

[manchild]

I was wondering… recently Renault gave Alonso one R25 “for keeps”. Having in mind that he signed for Mclaren after that will Renault now take it back? I mean, everyone would like to nose around R25…

Even if it is just a show car without engine and gearbox, chassis is real.

[johny]

i don't think that model should be very accurate, and he'll keep it as a gift and he won't take it to woking and show it

[manchild]

i don't think that model should be very accurate, and he'll keep it as a gift and he won't take it to woking and show it

Why wouldn’t it be accurate? They certainly haven’t been molding and baking just one new chassis, suspension, brakes, and bodywork with inaccurate measurements to give it to Alonso.

Or... Perhaps they made one "special" car which was meant to be the Trojan horse for Mclaren together with Alonso Mystery of Alonso's departure solved... The whole thing was premeditated by Renault

[Spencifer_Murphy]

I doubt that Mclaren could learn THAT much from it (if anything at all)...if there is no internal components it is just an empty shell. The only major thing on the chassis construction of the R25 is the V-Keel...which I believe Mclaren have already bettered with the "Zero-Keel".

Now if Mclaren could get a look at 5the R25's "Step11" electronics box...THEN they could learn a thing or two!

[USAF1FAN]

Has anyone noticed (or did I miss it) that Renault has not definitively denied leaving F1 after next season?

Thom
New York

[Spencifer_Murphy]

I have not heard Renault officially denigh rumours that they will leave at end of 2006....but at the same time I have not heard a top Renault Executive actually being ASKED.

Kind of like Maggie Thatcher and her husbands devorce before he married her...she was asked why she did not mention it and she simply said "Beacuse nobody asked"

People can spread rumours all they like, but Renault Cheif Executives dont need to answer to rumours in F1 Forums.