Saturday: Renault is not where performance would want it to be

The ING Renault F1 Team took part in the ninth qualifying session of the 2009 World Championship today. Fernando Alonso qualified in 12th position, while Nelson Piquet will start from 10th place for tomorrow’s race.

In Germany, the rain disrupted the qualifying session, favoring the strategy of Nelson Piquet Jr. over that of his Spanish teammate. Piquet thus secured the second-fastest time in Q2 and earned his ticket to Q3, while Alonso, after a spin on the wet track, could only manage the 12th time.

The double world champion will however have the advantage of being able to adjust the setup of his single-seater before the race, in case of rain.

Fernando Alonso – 2nd and 12th:

« We started the session with optimism. We were competitive in Q1 but then Q2 was very difficult for everyone. The conditions kept changing, and we missed the opportunity to reach Q3. I hope we can gain positions tomorrow: if it rains, my position could actually be an advantage. I am quite confident for the race. »

Nelson Piquet – 15th and 10th:

« The conditions were difficult today, but I managed to come out on top by having the right tires at the right time. It’s a shame not to have done better than 10th in Q3, but I’m satisfied to have made it into the top 10. It gives me the chance to score points tomorrow. »

Pat Symonds – Executive Director of Engineering

« The technical innovations introduced this weekend have paid off, there is no doubt about it. The qualifying session was highly competitive. Fernando seemed very competitive but, unfortunately, he spun at a crucial moment and couldn’t advance to Q3. Nelson, on the other hand, had a solid session and deserves his place on the grid. »

According to a statement from the Renault F1 Team