#11 PREVIEW gERMANY

20/21/22 July 2018

Summary / / Nico Hülkenberg / Carlos Sainz / Academy / Track Notes / History

Foreword Cyril Abiteboul

The German Grand Prix arrives after Formula 1’s first triple-header, which, for us, proved to be a challenge and a test of our capabilities and stamina. We’ve completed this busy period still in fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, but this position doesn’t highlight the mid-season wake-up call we’ve received in recent races; we’re fully aware that the fight for fourth place will not be easy and will continue throughout

the second half of the season. Cyril Abiteboul Sport Racing Managing Director We rescued a good points finish at Silverstone – a track we knew didn’t play to our strengths - after a bad qualifying, with Nico producing a professional and composed drive to sixth. Carlos also made an excellent start to be in a position for points, but a racing incident stopped any chances of that. These things happen in Formula 1.

With Spain, France and Great Britain complete, Germany is Nico’s turn for a home race and he heads to Hockenheim with his confidence high after Silverstone. The next two races should be more suited to the characteristics of our package, but as a team, we know a perfectly executed weekend is important to the outcome of a Grand Prix. We have more hard work on this journey if we are to stay ahead of our midfield rivals in fourth.

Away from Formula 1, this weekend (13-15 July), Renault as a title sponsor of e. say goodbye to the Championship after four seasons. This series has brought the team a lot of success in recent years, with three Team titles, one Drivers’ crown and a record 15 ePrix victories. We wish the team success at the final weekend in New York.

Q&A Ultimate focus

The team battled hard in Silverstone to make a return to the points, but there’s a long road ahead and more hard work to do, with the German Grand Prix the next hurdle to negotiate, as Chief Technical Officer Bob Bell explains.

What can we expect from Hockenheim, the first be a challenge as there’s a lot of low-speed and flow throughout the season. There will be “It’s vital for us to regain time at the circuit for the high-downforce cars? traction events, and therefore rear tyre thermal some circuits where we’ll be stronger and at Bob Bell Team It’s a circuit which has a reasonable number of management will be an issue. As we find with some our rivals will be stronger. We have to keep the initiative in the Chief Technical Officer lower speed corners, it’s not going to be quite every race, how we manage the tyres will play a our focus and not get distracted by the result of midfield battle. We let as fast overall as what we saw at Silverstone for central role in our performance. an individual race, looking instead at longer term that slip in Austria but example. It won’t be necessary for the drivers to trends. Why have the tyres been a recent enemy? showed our fighting spirit relearn the circuit in the higher-downforce cars. We’ve had different problems at different What upgrades are there for Germany? in Silverstone, so it’s It’s been a tricky triple-header, so how important circuits. The problem in Austria wasn’t really The main one is a new front wing which we plan important we come out is it to rediscover the form? tyre wear, but blistering where the rubber to validate on Friday. We’re hoping it’s a step from Hockenheim in good It’s vital for us to regain the initiative in the underneath the surface almost “boils” and forwards in terms of overall car performance shape. The circuit should midfield battle. We let that slip in Austria but destroys the tyres from the inside out. That’s and will help our championship situation. suit us a little better than showed our fighting spirit in Silverstone, so it’s not a normal operating condition in any tyre! For important we come out from Hockenheim in us it will depend on which circuit we’re looking the last two rounds.” good shape. The circuit should suit us a little at, Hockenheim will be mainly focused on rear better than the last two rounds. tyres and making sure we keep them in the right operating window, and not letting them get too As we’ve seen at most races this year, it will be a hot. story of how we manage the tyres. It’s a slightly different choice here with Pirelli’s Medium, How tough is the midfield fight proving? Soft and Ultrasoft, skipping the Supersoft The midfield fight is becoming tighter and it’s tyre. Managing the tyres in Hockenheim will not a comfortable situation to be in. It will ebb #11 PREVIEW gERMANY

20/21/22 July 2018 Hockenheimring

Q&A Hülkenheim is back

After a strong Silverstone, Nico Hülkenberg has his tail up and is fully focused on doing the business in front of his home crowd at the historic Hockenheim circuit.

How pleasing is it to return to your home What’s Hockenheim like to drive? How do you look back on Silverstone? country for a Grand Prix? I enjoy this track a lot, and this year with the We got the maximum from the car in Silverstone, “It’s very special to have It’s very special to have the German Grand Prix increased downforce cars, it will be even more and it was some afternoon! We made a really Nico Hülkenberg back on the calendar. A home race is extremely fun. It begins with a high-speed turn one, good start, straight into a high position meaning the German Grand Prix Race Driver motivating, as you carry that extra ounce of which is going to be quicker than ever in we had to tweak our race plan. We managed #27 back on the calendar. determination to do well in front of the home 2018, and then turn two, which is actually an the tyres well, and it was a strong race all in all A home race is fans. We missed it last season, but now it’s important corner as you need to combine a high and pleasing to be back in the points. Ahead of extremely motivating, back at Hockenheim, we’ll really enjoy every minimum speed while getting on the power Germany we will be looking at our qualifying as you carry that extra moment throughout the weekend. Most drivers early to open up the long, curved straight. pace, as we know the midfield fight is getting ounce of determination and teams have a home race at some point in You need good traction out of the hairpin, close and we have to keep the upgrades coming the season, and we’re well prepared for both a which is also the best overtaking spot on race and hard work in order to stay ahead to do well in front of busy one away from the circuit, and for the extra day. Sector three, the stadium section, is special of our rivals. the home fans.“ pressure for a good result on-track. I’m looking with the packed grandstands and cheering forward to it, and I’ll be aiming for a positive crowd. It’s a tight part of the track, result for the team and for the German fans. it gets narrow, but it’s fast and flowing so hopefully we can put a show on for the fans.

Q&A Digging deep

After a welcome one-week interlude, Carlos Sainz is refreshed and recharged as he targets a return to the points at Hockenheim.

”I’m happy to be back How much are you looking forward to the return What do you like about Hockenheim? How hard is the fight for fourth place in the racing in Germany. of the German Grand Prix? It’s certainly a circuit I enjoy, even though I only Constructors’ Championship proving? I’m happy to be back racing in Germany. have one Formula 1 race to my name there. We have lots of things we need to analyse, as I’m especially looking Carlos Sainz I’m especially looking forward to it as we have a I’ve had pole positions and race wins at the midfield battle is getting tighter and tighter. Race Driver forward to it as we have few updates there – including a new front wing - Hockenheim in the junior categories. It’s quite These last few rounds have highlighted that #55 a few updates there – to help us get back on the pace we showed at an old-school circuit, which I like. There’s a trend and our current fourth place could be including a new front the beginning of the year. Hockenheim is a track couple of long straights and fast-sweeping threatened if we don’t keep up the hard work. wing - to help us get back I’ve won at in the past, so it’s one I’m looking corners. It will be the first time we’ve driven We had a really good two-thirds of the race at ahead to. It’s Nico’s home race too, so that’ll be Hockenheim with the wider, higher downforce Silverstone and it was a pity we couldn’t bring on the pace we showed at special for him – like for me in Spain – and that Formula 1 cars, so a lot of the corners will be more points home. We need to keep pushing the beginning of the year.” will help us both push hard on track all weekend. faster than what they once were. Turns one and to secure the fourth place in the Constructors’ 12 will be especially fast, so that’ll be something Championship. to keep an eye on in Friday’s early running. #11 PREVIEW gERMANY

20/21/22 July 2018 Hockenheimring

Hubert retakes GP3 Affiliated Driver championship lead with British win

Anthoine Hubert Renault Sport Affiliated Driver claimed his first on-track GP3 Series race win with a “What a great weekend dominant display in race one at Silverstone to leap back into the championship lead. in Silverstone, taking my first pole position and Anthoine drove a composed opening race in Silverstone, leading from the lights to the chequered flag for his victory! We also finished second race victory of the year after inheriting the race one win in France in June. Anthoine Hubert fourth after starting Renault Sport Affiliated Driver from eighth in race two. We scored big points and The Frenchman finished fourth in race two, meaning he leads the way in the Drivers’ standings by six points. after the poor weekend in Austria it was important to show we are a strong team. I’m now back in the lead of the championship but we still have a lot to do, we haven’t even reached the halfway point of the season yet! Thanks to ART for their support and confidence.”

Mixed results for Markelov and Formula 2 Aitken in Silverstone Artem Markelov Renault Sport Formula One Team’s Test & Development Driver Artem Markelov enjoyed a bright weekend at “Silverstone was a mixed Silverstone, taking home 16 points. weekend for me, and we got the most from it Artem claimed finishes of sixth in the Feature race and fourth in the Sprint race, and sits fourth in the after suffering with issues with the car. Drivers’ Championship. Renault Sport Formula One Two points-scoring Team’s Third and Reserve finishes is positive, but Driver Third & Reserve Driver Jack Aitken left his home round without points. In the Feature, Jack had finished of course we want more than that with wins and eighth and on reverse grid pole position, but was handed two separate penalties, which forced him out of podiums. Hopefully we’ll the points, before finishing twelfth in the Sprint. have these problems fixed before we get to Budapest.”

Jack Aitken

“It was a frustrating Artem Markelov Renault Sport Formula One weekend in Silverstone, Team’s Test and Development we had good top five pace Driver in practice, but missing the peak of the tyre in qualifying cost us a lot, and that set the tone of the weekend. We fought back well to P8 in Race 1 but penalties pushed us back. It’s frustrating as the pitlane speed penalty wasn’t our fault, but an issue with the limiter itself. We know it’s only a few small things holding us back, so we’ll keep pushing for Budapest!”

Fenestraz set for Formula 3 Zandvoort meeting

Sacha Fenestraz Renault Sport Academy Driver Sacha Fenestraz heads to Zandvoort this weekend (13-15 July) for the fourth “It’s the first time for me round of the FIA European Formula 3 Championship. racing in Zandvoort and it’s one of the best tracks Sacha – already a race winner in the series in his rookie year – sits eighth in the Championship after the last on the calendar, but also one of the round at the Norisring. The 18-year-old has never raced at the famous Dutch circuit, as he aims for a return Sacha Fenestraz Renault Sport Academy Driver hardest physically. to the podium in the class. I’m really looking forward to it, the team were fast there last season, so hopefully that’ll be the same again this year. I’ll try to improve my qualifying to make the races easier. It’ll be a tough weekend, but I’ll try my best to be back on the podium, let’s hope for some good racing”

Eurocup quartet back in action Eurocup after two-month break

Christian Lundgaard Renault Sport Academy quartet , Christian Lundgaard, and Arthur Rougier “After such a long break I’m return to racing next weekend (20-22 July) as the resumes following a two-month looking forward to making the difference we’ve been break at Austria’s . working so hard for over these two months. It’s a new track for me so Christian occupies second place in the standings on 98 points, 19 ahead of Max in fifth. Victor is three Christian Lundgaard of course the second year Renault Sport Academy Driver drivers will be hard to beat, points behind the British Driver with Arthur Rougier still in search of his first points in 23rd. but I’m confident that we can take the lead in the championship after this Max Fewtrell: “I’m looking forward to getting back into the car after quite a long break away from the weekend.” Eurocup. We did the NEC Monza round, but can’t wait to restart the Eurocup campaign and get back to it Victor Martins from where we left off, we’re aiming to get back on-track to try and take the Championship lead.” “The second half of the season starts at the Red Bull Ring; a track I’m looking forward to learning having never Max Fewtrell raced there. I’ve learnt a Renault Sport Academy lot at the first few rounds, Driver and we feel encouraged for the second-half of the season. After the two podiums in Monaco and my first win at Monza in the NEC, I want to keep up the hard work. The goal is to gain experience at all races and I’ll be giving it my best at Red Bull Ring.””

Arthur Rougier Victor Martins Renault Sport Academy “I’m really happy to race Driver again after this long break. It’s been a hard period with school exams, but I’m feeling free now after receiving my baccalauréat, so that’s been positive. I’ve never been to Austria, but we have put in a lot of preparation and we’ll aim for good results. It looks an amazing track, Arthur Rougier so I’m excited for the Renault Sport Academy Driver race weekend.”

Renault e.dams ready to close the curtain Formula E on Formula E career

Sébastien Buemi Renault e.dams will bring their four-year stay in the Formula E Championship to an end this weekend as they “I’m thrilled to be in New gear up for the final two rounds of the 2017/18 season in New York. York for this round that I missed last year. I will The team have won three Team’s Championships and one Drivers’ Championship since the inception of the get a chance to discover this interesting layout all-electric racing class in 2014. located in a fantastic setting. This weekend, a Renault e.dams hold the record for the most Formula E wins with 15, with Sébastien Buemi claiming 12 of page turns with the final those victories, giving the Swiss the most of any driver. race for Renault and the last for Nico with the team. We will give it our Sébastien, winner of the 2015/16 title, and team-mate Nico Prost will be targeting a bright ending for the all to finish in style. The team on the streets of New York with two rounds on offer. goal is clear: we want to fight for the victory”

Nico Prost

“I‘ve been with Renault since the beginning of their Formula E adventure. I have participated in every race alongside them and Starts: this weekend will bring 86; Buemi – 41, Prost – 43, Gasly - 2 an end to what has been Wins: four fantastic years. Even 15; Buemi – 12, Prost - 3 though we wanted to Podiums: have a better season this 25; Buemi – 20, Prost - 5 year, we have enjoyed tremendous success with Fastest Laps: 10; Buemi – 7, Prost - 3 three team titles, my three wins and three Pole Positions: 12; Buemi – 9, Prost - 3 pole positions. Because we have won so much Points: 869 together I really want to Teams’ Championships: finish on a high!” 3 (2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17) Drivers’ Championships: 1 (2015/16 – Buemi) (as of Zurich) #11 PREVIEW germany

20/21/22 July 2018 Hockenheimring

Track notes CIAron’s corner

This will be the first Grand Prix at this circuit since the regulation changes of the 2017 season that allowed wider cars with more downforce, so the corners will all be faster than they were. Turns 1 and 12 will now be very fast corners, and Turn 10/11 will probably be flat in qualifying. The final stadium section places high demands on the tyres, and both fronts and rears will be

on the limit at the end of a qualifying lap. There is a third DRS zone now, which will increase the Ciaron Pilbeam Chief Race Engineer chances of overtaking in the race. Race Team

Tyre allocation

Nico

Carlos

HISTORY

Renault in Germany (As a Constructor and Engine Supplier)

Nico Hülkenberg in Germany

Carlos Sainz in Germany

This Time in 2016

UNusual Fact: 40,000,000

An estimated 40 million spectators have visited the circuit since its opening in 1932.

All statistics provided by Forix.com