Friday: At Renault, Alonso is Dr. Jekyll and Grosjean, Mr. Hyde

Renault F1 Team completed its first day of work in Singapore with free practice sessions, in preparation for the 2009 Singapore Grand Prix. The results between the two drivers are in perfect opposition.

Fernando Alonso is once again the reliable asset for Renault as he had a very good day with 4th and 2nd fastest times in the two sessions. These performances bring back the smile to the French manufacturer, which is going through a real crisis following the recent withdrawal of the main sponsor ING, along with Mutua Madrilena, which was announced yesterday on the same day.

His teammate, Romain Grosjean, had a very bad first day in the city-state of Singapore. His crash during free practice 1 cost him dearly, and he finished at the bottom of the timesheet. A reaction is expected tomorrow.

Fernando Alonso – 4th and 2nd

« Today, we completed our entire technical program. The track was very dirty and slippery during both sessions. This made evaluating the car and improving the setup difficult, especially due to a very noticeable tendency to oversteer. However, I believe I made the most of the track time available to us. We are in a rather encouraging position for tomorrow. »

Romain Grosjean – 20th and 19th:

I discovered the circuit this morning. Unfortunately, I made a small mistake and it cost me quite a bit. This afternoon, we encountered some technical problems and we were unable to complete a large number of laps. Despite this, I tried to learn this track, which is particularly difficult. We still have a lot of work to do, and we can gain speed for tomorrow. Finally, I hope that the starting tests carried out today were conclusive.

Bob Bell – Team Director:

« This day did not quite go as planned. Romain went off track early in the first session, which deprived him of running time. During the second session, he encountered technical problems and couldn’t complete many laps. He should have spent a lot of time learning the circuit today, so it’s not ideal. Fernando’s day was difficult as well. All drivers complained about the lack of rear grip and a tendency to oversteer. The car was difficult to drive. We hope to be able to solve this problem tonight and ensure a better balance of the car for tomorrow. »

According to a statement from the Renault F1 Team