Renault boss confident of keeping Schu on leash
Renault chief Flavio Briatore is confident of shutting out Michael Schumacher yet again when the Formula One world championship resumes at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola on April 24.
“It was easy to win this race and now we have to make sure we stay where we are,” the Italian said after a third successive win in the Bahrain.
“We know Ferrari will mount a fightback, but this is what we expect.”
Schumacher faces an enormous challenge to hang on to his crown after his Ferrari team failed to score a point in the third race of the new season.
Fernando Alonso, 23, was just as confident of mastering Schuacher after two wins out of three.
And Renault technical chief Pat Symonds warned: “This year, to be honest, the cars that we have been leading the races with have not had to run at full speed either – so we have something in hand.
“But we are certainly not taking anything for granted just yet.”
Schumacher faces an intense testing programme to improve the reliability and performance of the F2005 after the worst start to a season since he left Briatore's Benetton team in 1996.
He has only two points this season and trails Alonso by 24, but he remained defiant.
“We made a fantastic effort to bring the new car here and it was absolutely the right decision,” he said.
“I am disappointed, but I take positives from this race. Until I retired, with a hydraulic system failure, the car was very competitive and I am sure it will be even more so in the coming races.”
Nine years ago Schumacher delivered two titles for Briatore, the second in a car powered by Renault engines in 1995.
Now, with Alonso sparkling on and off the track, there is no ignoring the feeling that Renault have got a new champion in the making.
n MOSCOW: Renault's winning start to the Formula One season has already vindicated the French team's investment strategy, the firm's president Louis Schweitzer said yesterday
"It's a real joy. It validates the strategy and investment that we have in this sport," Schweitzer told Reuters while launching local production of the Logan model.
"Recognition is the condition of success for a make of car. So it's a strategic investment and not just a sporting exploit." – Agencies
News Poll
- 700 Dell workers to lose jobs
- Visa-free status in Britain at risk, no thanks to ‘critical level’ of overstayers
- Pregnant woman’s hair and body burnt in sudden car blaze
- Liow’s wife quizzed by MACC
- Pua questions Khazanah’s multi-billion-ringgit share sale
- Three claim trial for alleged involvement in baby trafficking scam
- SIA quits Penang-Singapore route after 30 years
- Brother’s best friend, 19, charged with raping 14-year-old
- Liow and 12 others submit resignation letters to MCA sec-gen
- 20-litre ruling takes effect now
- 700 Dell workers to lose jobs
- Visa-free status in Britain at risk, no thanks to ‘critical level’ of overstayers
- SIA quits Penang-Singapore route after 30 years
- No change to planned tax on credit cards, says Chor
- Pua questions Khazanah’s multi-billion-ringgit share sale
- Three claim trial for alleged involvement in baby trafficking scam
- Mt Kinabalu trail highest in the world
- 20-litre ruling takes effect now
- Take on the world, local entrepreneurs told
- Opening of mall on hold
RSS
