Driver Reaction from the Launch of the R26

By Renault F1
January 31 2006

The race driver line-up for the Renault F1 Team continues unchanged in 2006. The pairing of Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella is among the most complete on the grid, and in the coming season, they will be supported by Finn Heikki Kovalainen

World Champion Fernando Alonso will enter the season as the man to beat in Formula 1. After being crowned the sport’s youngest champion in 2005, he will hope to defend his world title with the same blend of aggression and precision that defined his driving last year. Although this will be his final season with the Renault F1 Team, the Spaniard enters the new season fully focused on the challenge ahead.

“2006 is a brand new challenge for me,” comments Alonso. “Everything begins again this year. At this stage, it doesn’t mean anything to say you can win the title – but I certainly want to be fighting for it. Renault has the potential and the team has the confidence that we can do it from last year. My first impressions of the car have been very positive, and we seem to be competitive with the quickest teams. My goal is to defend the number 1 on the nose of the R26.”

For team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella, 2006 will be a year of confirmation. After finishing fifth in last year’s world championship, and playing a key role in Renault’s conquest of the constructors’ title, the Italian is aiming to establish himself at the front of the field this year, and to fight for the world title.

“It is simple for me: I am aiming for the world championship,” stated Fisichella. “This is a team that is defending the world title and working hard to win it again, so I am looking forward to a great season. There will be a good rivalry with Fernando. And from my point of view, I want to score points, win races and be in the fight for the championship.”

The final piece in the jigsaw comes in the form of an unchanged portfolio of investment, from the team’s partners and official suppliers. In 2005, the Renault F1 Team provided the best value for money on the Formula 1 grid, achieving a winning return on investment for its partner companies. It is a point that Managing Director Flavio Briatore highlights with pride, as he lays down the gauntlet for 2006.

“We have a simple rule: the priority is what makes the car go faster,” concludes Briatore. “We are proud of the efficiency of the team. Last year, Renault won the championship with three times’ less money than some of our competitors. There is always pressure at the start of a championship, and there is no point hiding from it now. 2005 was an exceptional season for us, and we hope to do it again this year.”