Italian GP: Alonso forces himself to stay positive for the good of Renault

A year ago, the Renault team was on the verge of making a sensational comeback. This year, the situation is entirely different, even though all the fans hope for one thing; to see their team shine. And with good reason, Renault nearly didn’t race in Valencia in mid-August, Nelson Piquet Jr was let go, and the results since the Hungarian Grand Prix at the end of July have been very poor. These are all points that do not bode well for the future of the French manufacturer.

However, Fernando Alonso is preparing properly for this new race weekend in Italy. He wants to stay positive to face the peculiarities of the Monza track. Notably, Renault will bring their KERS again.

Fernando, the weekend at Spa was disappointing. Tell us about your race…

« It was very frustrating for me because we missed another good chance to fight for a podium and score important points. It’s true that we weren’t fast enough during the qualifying session, but the car was more competitive during the race. Things were promising until my first pit stop, when it became clear that the car had been damaged.

Do you think your luck will change at Monza?

« I hope so because we have a competitive car but have not been able to demonstrate it so far. We have seen how fast the car is at the Nürburgring, in Budapest, and in Valencia. Unfortunately, for different reasons, we have not scored the points we should have. Nevertheless, I always move forward. I try to stay positive and approach the rest of the championship with a firm belief that we can finish the season strongly. »

Tell us about the challenge that Monza presents?

« It’s a unique track and the fastest of the season. Therefore, we will have a specific aerodynamic package, with low downforce. For this reason, the car will seem very strange and light because we will lack some grip in the corners. In the past, we used to test at Monza before the race; a specific setup is necessary there. Now, that is no longer possible, so we will need to work a lot on Friday to find a good setup base. We will need a car that is fast on the straights, stable under braking, and can use the curbs in the chicanes. »

According to a press release from the Renault F1 Team