#12 PREVIEW Hungary 27/28/29 July 2018 Hungaroring Summary Cyril Abiteboul / Bob Bell / Nico Hülkenberg / Carlos Sainz / Academy / Track Notes / History Foreword Cyril Abiteboul As the last race prior to the start of the summer break, the Hungarian Grand Prix acts as a good opportunity to gain some ground in the standings. We’re just over halfway through 2018, which has proved interesting, yet challenging in our push for fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship. We enter Budapest on the back of a good result in Germany. Ten points meant we extended our advantage Cyril Abiteboul Renault Sport Racing to over 20 points over our nearest rivals, but there’s still a long way to go and a lot of hard work to follow if Managing Director we are to maintain this slender gap. Before we can start to think about the summer break, we must get through this tricky race on the calendar. We know the Hungaroring is a challenging circuit for a number of reasons, but like any round, we go there with a sense of optimism and high standards. Then we have an important two-day test following the race, an extra period of time to learn more about our car and to give our Test & Development Driver Artem Markelov the opportunity to sample modern Formula 1 machinery for the first time; a natural next step for his career. Q&A SNATCH AND GRAB After an unpredictable German Grand Prix, the team narrowly extended their advantage in fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship. Chief Technical Officer Bob Bell shares his thoughts on the first-half of the season and the plan of action for the second-half. “We have reasonable pace What’s there to say about the Hungaroring? been largely away from the race and that’s a What’s in the pipeline for after the summer It’s a tight and twisty circuit, which requires significant improvement on last year. shutdown? Bob Bell in the car. Some of our Renault Sport Formula One Team maximum downforce from the car. The circuit We have developments coming. There isn’t Chief Technical Officer midfield rivals have an We have reasonable pace in the car. Some of has been resurfaced recently, so it should be much for Hungary because it’s a back-to-back, our midfield rivals have an advantage on us advantage on us at the relatively smooth. We’re going with Pirelli’s but we have a few smaller bits and pieces. We’re at the more open circuits, but then it swings open circuits, but then it Medium, Soft and Ultrasoft tyres, like in working on a new floor and a new bargeboard back our way on the tighter tracks. It’s nip and swings back our way on Germany, and we’ll be taking an almost system later in the season. We’re still pushing tuck for fourth place, but we’ve been good on identical proportion for our two drivers with hard to bring performance to this season’s car. the tighter tracks. It’s nip a Sunday afternoon and that’s where it counts. predominance of the Ultrasoft, which worked OK We are having to switch a lot of our attention to and tuck for fourth place, We have the pace in the car, the reliability and at Hockenheim and should be again in Hungary. 2019, but I think we have enough in the pipeline the race-craft and it’s about combining those but we’ve been good on to get the job done, we just need to make it Qualifying is crucial at the Hungaroring, three elements together every single weekend to a Sunday afternoon and happen. because it’s a tricky place for overtaking, so achieve our objective. that’s where it counts.” we’ll be placing some emphasis on getting that right. We go there with a reasonable degree of optimism as we ran well there last year and Why has the team been able to stay on top of the the characteristics of our car seem to be better midfield fight? suited to the tight and twisty circuits. We’re This business is about getting all elements right. aware of a possible forecast for thunderstorms Pace in qualifying is one thing and an important this weekend, so that might throw some spice element, but it’s not the whole story. You need a into the mix. good car on Sunday, which you need to race well, executing a good strategy, with clean pit-stops. All of these factors are crucial to scoring points and How do you rate the first-half of the season? that’s what counts at the end of the weekend. Overall, it’s been good. We’re halfway through the season and are fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, which is what we’ve set out to achieve. It’s not been an easy journey so far. We’ve been relatively reliable on track and if we have experienced problems, it’s #12 PREVIEW HUNGARY 27/28/29 July 2018 Hungaroring Q&A Hungary for more Nico Hülkenberg recorded his best result for the team with a fifth-place last time out. Now the German wants to head into the summer break with another solid points haul at a physically demanding Hungaroring. What do you like about the Have you explored the city of Budapest? How do you reflect on the last round? Nico Hülkenberg Race Driver Hungarian Grand Prix? The city of Budapest is a standout on the Fifth at my home race was obviously an #27 “I really enjoy Hungary, I really enjoy Hungary, it’s a good Grand Prix calendar. It’s a very pretty place with the excellent result for me and the team. It’s my it’s a good Grand Prix weekend. It’s the final round before the summer architecture and river flowing through. Food best finish since joining Renault, so we can take break, something I’m very much looking there is also something to look forward to, encouragement from that and look to build weekend. It’s the final forward to after a busy and hard-fought string especially Hungarian goulash. It’s an interesting on this in Hungary. We’re clearly in a difficult round before the summer of European races. In terms of the circuit place, a nice final city to visit before the summer fight for fourth place in the Constructors’ break, something I’m very itself, it’s very technical with some fun corner break. The fans are always passionate in Championship and it’s been a tough battle so much looking forward to combinations, which come thick and fast. All Hungary and they always enjoy the Grand Prix far, especially through these summer European after a busy and the corners combine in a way, and one small weekend. rounds. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us, error means the next corner is compromised. It’s but I’m confident we can come out on top and hard-fought string of important to strike that balance and harmony I’m up for the challenge. European races. “ with the car. It’s usually a physical Grand Prix, very hot and busy at the wheel. It’s a race where fitness is key, more so than some races and that’s a challenge I relish. Q&A HOT SUMMER DAYS Carlos Sainz has his sights firmly set on finishing on a positive note ahead of the summer break. ”It’s the final race before What’s the Hungaroring like to drive? Are you looking forward to the summer break? the fans as they are always so passionate in the summer break, so it’s It’s a very tight track, similar to Monaco in a way It’s the final race before the summer break, Hungary. but obviously without the barriers. It’s a track I so it’s one we put a lot of effort into to finish one we put a lot of effort like, especially in qualifying, where you have to on a bright note. This past month has been What’s the verdict after a busy month of racing? into to finish on a bright be on it. A lap is very intense and busy with a lot a challenge, but our focus is on this race and It’s been a tough few races, but I’m focused on Carlos Sainz note. This past month has of corner combinations you have to get right. ensuring we are back in the points. I have mixed Race Driver this round and doing the best job possible. We #55 been a challenge, but our It’s a difficult circuit to overtake, but turn one is feelings about the summer break. On one hand, have a fight on our hands for fourth place, but probably the best opportunity. it’s nice because you get the chance to reset focus is on this race and I’m confident we have what it takes to stay on everything a little bit, but on the other, I love ensuring we are back in top. I’m taking it round by round, and my focus is racing and I’ll miss that for a few weeks! the points.” on having a good outing at the Hungaroring this Have you had time to visit the city of Budapest? weekend. Budapest is up there as one of my favourite cities in the world. There are lots of good restaurants, historic buildings and things to do.