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The 2006 Malaysian GP was an historic race for the Renault F1 Team, as drivers
Giancarlo Fisichella and Fernando Alonso took the team's first ever one-two
since Renault returned to the sport as a works manufacturer in the 2002 season,
and only the second one-two finish in Renault's Formula One history, the last
occasion being at the 1982 French Grand Prix.
Giancarlo Fisichella bounced back in style from a disappointing retirement in
the Bahraini Grand Prix seven days ago, controlling the Malaysian Grand Prix
from start to finish. Running a two-stop strategy, the Italian made a perfect
start from pole position and did not put a foot wrong all afternoon. He pitted
on laps 19 and 38, and ran an otherwise untroubled race as his R26 car and RS26
V8 engine did not miss a beat.
Fernando Alonso started from a lowly seventh position after problems in
qualifying, but much of the disadvantage had been eradicated by the time he
reached turn two. A lightning start, and a daring outside pass on both Williams
drivers under braking into the first corner, meant the Spaniard emerged from the
opening corners in third position. After holding off the lighter Williams of
Mark Webber during the opening laps, and conserving his tyres for what would be
a very long first stint, the Spaniard began to show the true pace of the R26.
His two-stop strategy saw him visit the pits on laps 26 and 43, as he vaulted
ahead of Jenson Button's Honda into second position, which he held comfortably
to the flag.
The Renault F1 Team leads the Constructors' Championship with 28 points from
the opening two races. Fernando Alonso heads the Drivers' Championship on 18
points, while Giancarlo Fisichella is fourth on 10 points. The RS26 V8 engine
has also taken both race wins under the new V8 regulations, and Fernando
Alonso's engine completed its first two-race life with a total of 18 points
scored from a possible 20.
Giancarlo Fisichella, Winner
It was a perfect race for me, but it
was very tough physically and mentally. It was really, really hot out there and
I began to feel it from mid-race onwards. I knew it would be hard but there was
no choice but to push all the way to the end. So I did. I didn't want to lose
concentration in the last laps, and everything went well, the car and engine
were perfect too. I am really so happy for this win. And I am especially pleased
because I am dedicating the win to a friend who died last week, Pietro. To have
my race engineer Alan Permane on the podium alongside me was special too. Thank
you to the whole team, this is a brilliant result.
Fernando Alonso, 2nd position
From my point of view, I think
things could have been different without the problems in qualifying, but it was
about making everything we could from P7 on the grid, and I think we did that. I
got a great start, and managed to brake late into turn 1 to get the Williams
round the outside. I knew Webber was lighter than me, and would have let him go
if he had tried to pass, but we had the speed in spite of the heavy fuel load.
After that, it was just a question of pushing and letting the strategy work
itself out. I have a special feeling for this circuit, it is a fantastic track,
and it has always been good to me. I am very pleased to have 18 points out of a
possible 20 after only two races, and we are really looking forward to
Melbourne.
Flavio Briatore, Managing Director
This was a fantastic
performance from the whole Renault team. Every single member of our team put in
an exceptional performance today. Fisico and Fernando were fantastic. Giancarlo
controlled the race, and Fernando amazed us at the start. The car was so heavy,
that to do what he did into turn 1 was something special. I think this
performance shows that we interpreted the rules for 2006, with the new V8
engines, in the right way. We have a great group of people, and everybody is
pushing in the same direction. I am very happy for the whole Renault Group, and
they should be proud to have an incredible team like this one.
Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering
We had a fantastic
amount of success last season, but the one-two finish eluded us throughout 2005.
It is the ultimate team prize, and we are delighted to have achieved it today.
What a fantastic result this was for Giancarlo. We saw that he has real strength
of character, as he bounced back from a disappointing weekend in Bahrain, and
this just reinforces that. It was a controlling and compelling performance. It
is important not to forget Fernando, who was disadvantaged in qualifying by a
team problem. He fought through the field to make the most of his race, as he
always does. This is a team result, and belongs to every single person at
Enstone and Viry.
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