#11 PREVIEW gERMANY 20/21/22 July 2018 Hockenheimring Summary Cyril Abiteboul / Bob Bell / 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 Renault 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.dams say goodbye to the Formula E 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 Renault Sport Formula One 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.