Renault: Honda are the team to beat

By Phil Huff
February 27 2006

Renault's engineering Director, Pat Symonds, believes that Honda are the team to beat in 2006, suggesting that both the French team and Honda Racing F1 have an edge over their rivals.

"So far this winter, I think it appears we [Renault] and Honda may have slightly the upper hand," explained Symonds, "but McLaren are certainly getting there too. Last week in Valencia, they produced some very good long run times and started looking competitive - and Ferrari are not far behind."

While some teams have been chasing fast lap times in order to impress sponsors - or, more importantly, potential sponsors - both Renault and Honda have been concentrating on genuine development

"Certainly, the headline times produced at the end of every day probably have less relevance than anything else," added Pat. "We tend to concentrate more on the long-distance running people do, rather than the short runs."

At last weeks Barcelona test, Jenson Button finished fastest overall, a split second ahead of the fastest Renault, driven by Giancarlo Fisichella. World champion Fernando Alonso was third, with Honda Racing F1's new driver, Rubens Barrichello, just three tenths behind.