Summary: Renault did not achieve the insurmountable!

Fernando Alonso and Romain Grosjean finished the Japanese Grand Prix in 10th and 16th positions today after starting from the back of the grid. Both drivers were heavily penalized by their starting position on the Suzuka circuit. The Spaniard received a penalty that ruined his chances for points, even though he managed to gain six places throughout the Grand Prix.

Grosjean has another disappointing weekend, and everyone is starting to doubt his presence at Renault in 2010, especially as Kubica will most likely be officially announced on Tuesday. You can also express your opinion on the French driver’s presence or absence within the team on the homepage of www.casinoenlignefrance.eu.com.

Fernando Alonso – 10th:

« My race was decided after qualifying because, even though I was competitive in the race and even though I managed to gain 6 positions from my place on the grid, it wasn’t enough to get into the points. We now need to focus on the two upcoming races and prioritize our qualifying, because if we’re competitive there, we can score big points. »

Romain Grosjean – 16th:

« The afternoon was very difficult for me. The car was very heavy with fuel and it was oversteering a lot. Moreover, the Suzuka circuit was a discovery for me this weekend. I did my best to finish the race without problems. Now, I am preparing for the next race in Brazil. »

Jean-François Caubet – General Director.

I would like to congratulate Red Bull Racing for this new victory, which highlights the competitiveness of the Renault engine. Unfortunately for Renault F1 Team, the weekend seemed promising after our performances in Singapore, but it did not live up to expectations. Both cars were quite far back on the grid, and even with a good strategy and an excellent performance from Fernando who gained six places, we were unable to score points. We will need to correct this in the next two races.

Bob Bell – Team Principal:

« It would be easy to say that this race was disappointing, but in reality, it was the qualifications that caused the problem. They indeed determined our final result. Fernando did an excellent job and gained six places, and I think he could have finished quite differently without his penalty and if he had started in the top 10. Romain drove solidly and crossed the finish line; we couldn’t have hoped for more given his position on the grid. The weekend wasn’t fantastic, then, but it’s not without positive elements. The team worked perfectly, and we approach Sao Paulo with optimism. »

Rémi Taffin – Track Coordinator:

« This return to Suzuka was not very fruitful. We had the speed, but our grid positions compromised any chance of a result. We used new engines for this race and we encountered no problems. They completed the expected mileage. For Brazil, we still have the choice: we will certainly use new engines, but that remains to be confirmed. »

According to a statement from the Renault F1 Team