#10

RACE PREVIEW Great Britain Silverstone // 14/15/16 July 2017

Content // // // Nico Hülkenberg // // Track Notes

Cyril Abiteboul FOREWORD Silverstone promises to be a special weekend for the Sport Racing family. Cyril Abiteboul Racing Managing Director

Sunday 16th July will be particularly memorable as it Sunday for Nico in Austria was increasingly difficult The British Grand Prix marks the beginning of a marks the 40th anniversary, to the day, of Renault’s and he was unfortunately hampered at the start. The sequence of strong chassis developments and I hope first Formula 1 Grand Prix when the RS01, pioneered anti-stall system on his car kicked in which put him to see the installation progress on the upcoming races. by Jean-Pierre Jabouille, graced the legendary British to the back by the first corner and severely damaged It’s an important few weeks before the mid-season circuit. Of course, this ignited Renault’s passion for his race. We need to investigate why this happened break and it’s vital that our hard work is maintained. Formula 1, and 40 years and masses of success later, and ensure it doesn’t occur again. We tried something Silverstone is located a short drive from our Enstone we are still going with the same grit on the grid today. different with Nico’s strategy after he struggled on base so we look forward to welcoming many friends the Supersoft tyres, but in the end it did not quite We left Austria with mixed feelings after a weekend and family to come join us for a cup of tea. We hope for work out. Again, all for review and part of our ongoing which highlighted a number positives, whilst all to be able to celebrate a positive result on Sunday. development. underlined the areas which require improvement. We are satisfied with Jolyon’s race, even though we As well as reflecting over our forty-year history at didn’t secure any points, an impressive outing from Silverstone we will also be looking very much to the him means he has the confidence going into his home future and we will unveil a new garage. The garage Grand Prix. Jolyon needs to be better placed on the at a Grand Prix is where all the race weekend work grid, which of course helps for a better Sunday. This is takes place to the cars and it’s also a showroom to our one of his targets and we hope to see him improve in participation in Formula 1. that area. . “ 40 years and masses of success later, we are still going with the same grit on the grid today.”

BOB BELL

Bouncing back Chief Technical Officer Bob Bell wants to ensure the team make a swift return to the points at the British Grand Prix on a track which can throw up a number of surprises.

Bob Bell Renault Sport Team Chief Technical Officer Q&A

What challenges does It will be interesting to see how the Ultimately for us, we are midway We are analysing Nico’s problem. Silverstone present? Medium compound goes around through the season and we have a It sits very squarely between the It’s a flowing circuit, quite different Silverstone. Sometimes drivers lot to do to make up for the second engine and the clutch and gearbox. to what we have seen so far this don’t like the softer compounds, half. These problems can be quite season, so it will be an interesting they prefer the more robust tyre widespread so we need to take our benchmark. As a circuit, it’s fast for the high-speed turns, so we What are your thoughts post time to analyse the data carefully with numerous high speed corners. will have to wait and see. The Austria? and fully understand the issue and It’s not the smoothest circuit, but layout will test our car’s balance It was a disappointment as we see what to do next. We need to it doesn’t have particularly nasty as it has shown a propensity to went there expecting more. perform and start scoring points kerbs like Austria which gave us be a bit nervous in the high speed It’s a hard circuit in many ways, again on a regular basis. That’s the bodywork damage. It’s not as corners, so that’s something we’ll especially on tyres and good aim, it always is. We will try hard hard on brakes as Austria, but it be monitoring. performance in the race is down at Silverstone to come home with puts a lot of energy on the tyres, to tyre management. We had a some points and do justice to the especially the left-hand side so difficult start which put Nico on 40th year anniversary celebrations. you usually get left-front graining the back-foot. Jo got within striking amidst other issues. distance from the points, which was a strong effort from him.

” Ultimately for us, we are midway through the season and we have a lot to do to make up for the second half.” NICO HÜLKENBERG

NICO HÜLKENBERG NICO HULKENBURG Need for speed A challenging Austrian Grand Prix for Nico Hülkenberg means he has extra determination to strive for points on a fast and flowing .

Nico Hülkenberg / Race Driver #27

Q&A

What do you make of maximise our performance. It’s a It’s one of those special races have done. In the race, the anti- Silverstone? challenging lap but also a lot of fun because the grandstands are full stall at the start kicked in and we Silverstone is a high-speed and very special. – all around the circuit and across dropped to the back, we need to circuit with lots of old corner the entire weekend. There’s a review what happened and make combinations such as Maggots, And what about the British really cool, traditional atmosphere sure it doesn’t happen again. Becketts and Chapel which are atmosphere? about the place which is great to I was almost last by the first corner truly awesome. There are so many Silverstone is one of the historic experience. You always see how and it was difficult after that. great corners where you really races on the calendar. You really much the fans love the sport. I struggled on the Supersoft tyres feel the forces of a Formula 1 car. get a feel for the roots of racing It will be a busy weekend with lots and I wasn’t making ground, so You have to really work your neck there. The atmosphere is buzzing of people and lots of sponsors we switched to the Softs to try in the build-up before Silverstone and that always give me an extra there to see us, especially with the something different. I lost a lot of to get ready for the high G forces boost, especially as my Formula 1 40th anniversary celebrations. time with the front runners and and it’s important to be ready for home for so many years was just blue flags, so it was difficult. it. At Silverstone we’ll really feel outside the gates. You get a great How do you sum up Austria? We will analyse, regroup and go the extra cornering forces from the feeling when you’re driving with Sunday wasn’t good, but Saturday again in a couple of days. cars this season. We need good the thousands of fanatical Formula was more positive, P11 on the grid high speed balance on the car to 1 supporters cheering you on. was probably the best we could

. “ There are so many great corners where you really feel the forces of a Formula 1 car.”

jolyon palmer

jolyon palmer jolyon palmer Home comforts Jolyon Palmer narrowly missed out on the points in Spielberg, but the Brit is ready for his home Grand Prix where a maiden top ten finish of the season is within reach. Jolyon Palmer / Race Driver #30

Q&A

Is it exciting to race in your home Grand Prix? Do you like the circuit? What are your post-race feelings from Spielberg? I’m really looking forward to racing in front of the home It’s certainly the Formula 1 track that I know the best so It was a solid race and I was pushing like hell at the crowd. I love the track and it’s always a special weekend at I’m hoping that gives me an extra boost along with all the end. We were so close to the points, but it was another Silverstone. People always turn out in huge numbers and home support. There are lots of high speed corners which eleventh place! Overall, it was a decent weekend. I made they are very passionate which really pushes us drivers. are cool to drive and a lap has a really good flow to it. I had a small mistake in qualifying which put us out in Q1, with My first Grand Prix at Silverstone was when I was six and my first race at Silverstone when I was fifteen so I know the times so very close in Austria. The race was quite a fan, so it’s special to be there with lots of reminiscing. It’s the place pretty well! I’ve been on the podium a few times good, but I was behind Lance Stroll for over 40 laps, and always a great experience. throughout my career including a win in Formula Two and I just wasn’t able to pass him no matter how hard I tried! second and third places in GP2. Silverstone’s my home race so I am excited for that. I am going there after a fairly positive weekend, so I am aiming to keep the momentum and get those points.

” It’s certainly the Formula 1 track that I know the best so I’m hoping that gives me an extra boost along with all the home support.” NICO HÜLKENBERG

renault sport round up round up Lundgaard doubles up in Estonia extended his lead at the top of the SMP F4 NEZ Championship after a dominant display in Parnu, Estonia on 1-2 July. Lundgaard – fresh from a hat-trick of wins in the Spanish F4 series – carried on his strong run of form and qualified on the front row for the opening race, missing out on pole position by 0.011s to rival Xavier Lloveras.

But the Dane powered off the line in race one, passing the Spaniard at the start and built a healthy lead which he would not relinquish.

It was a similar story in race two as Lundgaard got the better of Lloveras and took his third straight NEZ win and sixth in a row in F4.

The 15-year-old qualified on pole for Sunday’s final race but stalled on the line and was hit by two other drivers, marking an end to his weekend. The series heads to Moscow, Russia (14-16 July) for round five where Lundgaard will have his sights set on building on his eight-point advantage over Lloveras at the summit of the championship.

” Parnu was a positive weekend overall, I hoped for more in the qualifying, but the yellow flag hampered my opportunity to improve. I was surprised by the results in races one and two after a couple of good starts. I made a big mistake at the start of race three, though. I stalled my car on the grid and was hit by two cars. It was a big mistake from me, but I'm learning from it.”

Mixed weekend for Eurocup trio at the

Max Fewtrell, and Sun Yue Yang took home a number of points from the Hungaroring as the Eurocup season reached its mid-point on 1-2 July. Dutchman Opmeer secured his first points of the season in the opening race on Saturday as he finished in eighth place after starting from fifteenth. Starting from the back of the grid after a qualifying off, Fewtrell made up 17 places to finish thirteenth.

Fewtrell then took the top rookie award in race two with a smart move on Ye Yifei at turn one sealing him a solid sixth position.

In race three, Fewtrell added a couple more points in ninth with Opmeer finishing in twelfth. Sun came 19th in race one and 28th in races two and three. Nürburgring is next up on the calendar (14-16 July) for the trio who will be aiming to add more points in their rookie seasons.

Max Fewtrell

“ It was good to be back on the podium with the rookie category win. This success is satisfying following a difficult weekend in Monaco last time out, and after a complicated Saturday in Budapest with my accident in Q1. It was far from an ideal start! I put a nice move on Yifei to take the victory, but I must work much harder to step onto the overall podium which I will be aiming to do at the Nürburgring.”

Jarno Opmeer

“ I’m very happy to get my first points of the season especially coming from fifteenth on the grid to eighth. My team did a fantastic job all weekend and I hope we can build on this now heading to the next round. I need to work on consistent pace to run frequently in the top ten.”

Sun Yue Yang

“ I learned more about the use of strategy than any race before. It was a difficult track, more than any track that I have driven before apart from Spa. I learned to feel the car more. I can make one more step in the next race because of this knowledge.”

Aitken secures podium as GP3 series returns ww Jack Aitken came home with 24 points as the GP3 series resumed in Austria. After a frustrating season opening in Barcelona, the 21-year-old needed a solid points haul to keep tabs with his rivals. Aitken drove his ART machine to a strong second place in Saturday’s Feature race after qualifying on the front row in Spielberg, missing out on the win by 2.3s from George Russell.

In Sunday’s Sprint, Aitken weaved his way up to fifth from seventh on the grid to grab six crucial championship points as the series heads to Silverstone for Round Three.

“ We got some solid points which are always nice. We know we are quick and the pace is certainly there. If we keep doing what we’re doing then it will come. The team are doing a really good job with the car and I’m confident in myself so it’s important to keep going. We are leaving Austria fifth in the championship, heading into my home Grand Prix, so I’m excited for that and ready to have a go at Silverstone.”

Podiums for Latifi and Rowland in Spielberg

Renault Sport Formula One Team Test Driver and Development Driver Oliver Rowland both scored podium finishes after a positive weekend in the Formula Two championship in Spielberg. In Saturday’s opening Feature Race, Canadian Latifi charged his way from eighth on the grid to an impressive second – his third podium finish in a row in the series and a career best result in the class. Rowland, from fourth off the line, maintained that position to bag valuable points.

Sunday morning’s Sprint proved better luck for Rowland who impressively drove his way to third place. It could have been even better for the Sheffield man after dicing with Alexander Albon for the runners-up spot, but fell short by 0.5s.

Latifi, meanwhile, made a smart getaway from seventh on the grid and was locked in a race long battle for fifth. However, a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit-lane under the safety car bumped Latifi down to eighth as he had to settle for a solitary point.

Rowland sits second in the standings, 49 points behind leader Charles Leclerc, with Latifi up to fourth as the pair set their sights on Silverstone this weekend.

Oliver Rowland

“ Overall it was a good weekend. I was pleased with the fourth on Saturday, and the podium on Sunday means good points for the championship. I was trying to manage the tyres in the Sprint and I started to catch second but unfortunately couldn’t quite make the move. We need to address qualifying pace and stay focused on the job ready for the home race.”

Nicholas Latifi

“ We got the weekend off to a great start, it was my best practice session of the year so far. I didn’t quite have the same confidence in the car during qualifying, but we were still in a good position for the race. Attention now quickly changes to Silverstone, where we want to build on the strong run of form.”

Gasly to make Renault e. debut

Reigning GP2 champion will make his Renault e.dams and Formula E debut in New York as he stands in for reigning champion and current championship leader, Sébastien Buemi. Séb will not compete in this weekend’s New York ePrix double-header as he lines up for the fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring.

Pierre will join Nico Prost, who is targeting a first podium finish of the season in New York as he chases down Felix Rosenqvist in the battle for third in the drivers’ standings.

Séb’s championship lead could come under pressure as he misses out on two races in New York. Buemi currently leads the standings by 32 points from Lucas di Grassi who will be aiming to add a large points haul ahead of the final rounds of the season in Montréal at the end of July.

“ We are very pleased to welcome Pierre Gasly. Racing in New York is going to be a challenge as he makes his Formula E debut at the end of the championship. But looking at our preparation, we are confident and our goal remains the same, to score the maximum points to strengthen our lead in the championship.”

Alain Prost, team co-owner track notes

track notes silverstone Silverstone is one of the legendary circuits on the Formula 1 calendar. The 5.891km lap is fast, flowing and very physical to drive. The car needs a good balance to deal with the long straights and the quick changes of direction with drivers combating the circuit in around 90secs.

track STATS

4 165 1.6 7 292 0.1 13:00 race START 3 102 2.7 7 269 1.8 ale 306.198 race distance (KM) SECTOR 3 Luffield Abbey 5.891 Stowe circuit length (KM) SECTOR 1 Woodcote

52 arm number of laps

SECTOR 2 8 322 0.7 3 1:33.401s DRS DRS Lap Record (, 2013) 8 299 0.7 Chapel Becketts aggots Copse

3

6 270 3.7 8 297 2.4 FUEL EFFECT

T01 t09

Fast right-hander taken at over 280kph, building momentum for Taken almost flat out, Copse is one of the most daunting corners the quick left heading into the tight and reasonably slow T3. of the season and a real test of nerve for the drivers. 0.37 0.37SEC/10KG 0.31SEC/10KG T04 T14 SEC/10KG

Acts as a feeder into the T5 kink opening-up the long Wellington Overall car balance is essential through the high-speed Becketts straight which has good overtaking opportunities with the DRS. complex, which is entered at over 300kph with only minor 21 average .sec1kg 21 average .sec1kg throttle lift through the entire series of corners. 21 average .sec1kg t07 FUEL CONSUMPTION T16 Minimising understeer through Luffield is essential to ensure good speed down the straight, as this leads on through Copse, Vale is one of the slowest corners on the track – taken at around then subsequently into the Becketts complex and on to Stowe. 100kph – and precedes the final right-hander of Club before the drivers pile down the start/finish straight. 2.02 2.02kg/lap 1.48kg/lap kg/lap

21 average 1.kglap 21 average 1.kglap 21 average 1.kglap DOWNFORCE FULL THROTTLE

66 %66 of lap %66 of lap % of lap

21 average . of lap 21 average . of lap 21 average . of lap

braking

BRAKE WEAR 17 % 17of lap %19 of lap % of lap

POWER UNIT

21 average 1. of lap • Silverstone counts as one of the power tracks of the season, average speeds of around 225kph and no lower than 180kph 21 average 1. of lap 21 average 1. of lap with 66% of the lap spent at full throttle in qualifying and at any one point. The driver needs to keep a rhythm going 64% in the race, plus an average speed of well over 200kph. so he can roll through the complex rather than brake and • There are six sustained periods of wide open throttle accelerate repeatedly. over the 5.891km lap. The Hangar Straight is the longest • There are several low speed corners for the MGU-K to recover straight at 875m, which translates to 12secs at full throttle. energy and keep the battery at a high level of charge. Top speed peaks at over 320kph with DRS open. The other The Wellington Loop complex and Luffield are the most straights are the old pit straight (750m), the straight from obvious corners to recover energy. Stowe presents another Stowe to Club (600m), the pit straight (600m) and the opportunity for the MGU-K as cars brake from well over Wellington Straight (700m). 300kph to fifth gear and 180kph. • Smooth turbo response is very important at Silverstone • Fuel consumption at Silverstone will be high since the lap is as the high-speed turns are interlinked. The sweeping long and quick but the H and K will be able to recover enough Maggots-Beckett-Chapel complex, for instance, sees to mean that fuel saving won’t be a concern during the race.

tyres iN figures

HIGH 135 The London Eye is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe at 135 metres 30,000 There are over 30,000 people in England with the name John Smith

low

SUPERSOFT SOFT MEDIUM tyre wear 21 There is only a 21-mile gap between England and France Cream Tea – Popular in Fish & Chips – The go to Roast Dinner – A luxury the English countryside dish; can’t go wrong with Sunday meal; durable and on a sunny Saturday this popular and very ticking all the boxes. 220 afternoon and the early easy combination. The River Severn is the UK’s longest river stages of a Sunday. at 220 miles, around 60 laps of Disappears out of sight Silverstone quickly and melts in the mouth. 11.5bn Number of sandwiches eaten in Britain every year.