Satisfaction for Renault to reach Q2

Renault is well aware that 2016 will be a year of rebuilding and that big results shouldn’t be expected immediately. Therefore, one has to be content with small satisfactions along the way. This is the case after the Melbourne qualifications, as Kevin Magnussen points out: « We did not think we would be as strong as we were today. We did not think we would get past Q1, but in fact, both cars made it through. My lap wasn’t perfect; there was more potential in the car. So it’s encouraging. »

But appetite comes with eating, and the Dane regretted not doing better than a 15th place finish: « It was frustrating that everything didn’t go well in Q2. We had traffic, which prevented us from setting a better time. But it’s the same for everyone, and at some point, it will swing our way. »

He can still remember that this 15th place is better than the 17th place he was able to achieve with his McLaren last year…

As for his teammate, Jolyon Palmer, he was participating in his first F1 qualifying session. He had the satisfaction of not being eliminated in the first phase of qualifying, notably by improving in his last Q1 attempt: « We are happy to be in Q2. We didn’t hope for much better. I hadn’t done many laps in the dry here. So I did some tests, and on my last lap, I knew I had to give it my all. It was enough to get into Q2. So, a good day! »

The team hopes to score points for its big return as a full-time team, as highlighted by Alan Permane, the director of track operations: “Both cars are reliable and we are starting in the middle of the pack. So we have every chance to score points. If we were able to score points for the team’s debut, especially after the difficult winter we had, it would be fantastic! So that is clearly our objective.”