FOREWORD Baku Will Mark the Inaugural Azerbaijan Grand Prix After the Circuit Made Its Debut in the European Grand Prix Last Year
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#08 RACE PREVIEW AZErBAIJAN Baku // 23/24/25 June 2017 Content // Cyril Abiteboul // Nick Chester // Nico Hülkenberg // Jolyon Palmer // Track Notes Cyril Abiteboul FOREWORD Baku will mark the inaugural Azerbaijan Grand Prix after the circuit made its debut in the European Grand Prix last year. It’s an event we’re looking forward to as it’s another Cyril Abiteboul Renault Sport Racing Managing Director opportunity for us to improve and develop, which are the keywords for our season. Montréal was a solid weekend for us and at this point It was good to see Daniel Ricciardo and Red Bull on The work at both Enstone and Viry is pushing us in our roadmap, we can be satisfied with the results. the podium in Canada for the third time in a row this further forward towards our target and it is vital now After the frustration of Monaco, it was important for season. This is a good illustration of what is possible that we keep on working through these busy European us to brush that aside, focus on getting the job done and on the Power Unit side we are making constant rounds which come thick and fast. And hopefully in the in Canada and make a swift return to the points. Nico improvements to the R.E.17, which was a new engine next couple of races, by Hungary, at the end of July, had a strong Grand Prix showing good pace across package for 2017 that allows a substantial step these efforts will be rewarded with more substantial both Saturday and Sunday. We must pay credit to him forward from its predecessor, the R.E.16. Obviously, upgrades, to support us in fighting for higher positions. as he remained cool throughout an eventful race with this was darkened by Max Verstappen’s retirement, We need positive results to drive us to where we the high wind which caused all sorts of issues. We took as he was looking very strong in second position. want to be, in fifth position in the Constructors’ a risk-free punt at pitting Nico early under the Virtual That retirement was the first one for Red Bull Racing Championship. We are making small improvements Safety Car and an eighth-place finish was probably as caused by the Power Unit since Melbourne 2016, but it each race which is increasingly encouraging. good as it was going to get. is not an excuse as perfect reliability in the race is our Elsewhere, our Third and Reserve Driver Sergey priority, for all our customers. Jolyon was able to secure back-to-back eleventh place Sirotkin was kept busy at the weekend competing in finishes which is positive as we are seeing improving Baku is an especially exciting and testing circuit on the Le Mans 24 Hours, where we also saw the Alpine race pace. The challenge and priority for Jolyon now the Formula 1 calendar and it is important that we brand finish fifth overall and fourth in the LMP2 is to qualify higher in order to be in a better position add to our success from Canada with another points category as well as our Formula E duo of Nico Prost on the grid. That will boost his chances of being in haul. Baku presents a fairly similar task to the Circuit and Sébastien Buemi out in action. Sergey will be back contention of winning some points and contribute Gilles Villeneuve with some long straights finishing in behind the wheel, for a one-off this weekend, as he to the team’s charge of moving up the Constructors’ hard-braking zones. Everything we learned in Montréal makes a return to ART to contest the Baku round of Championship. We closed the gap to both Williams should be very useful for building towards a clearer the FIA Formula 2 Championship; we wish him well on and Toro Rosso in the standings with our aim, of picture for Azerbaijan. Last year was a step into the track. being sixth before the mid-season break, remaining unknown but there is a positive feeling this time unchanged. around as we have the know-how on what to expect. “ The work at both Enstone and Viry is pushing us further forward towards our target. ” nick chester Time to tinker Technical Director Nick Chester is keen to build on the positivity of Renault’s recent points finish in Montréal as the R.S.17 upgrade packages continue to move the team further forward. Nick Chester Renault Sport One Formula One Team Chassis Technical Director Q&A What do we know about Baku? Does the R.S.17 have any new Is there much happening behind The new Operations Room It was a pretty tricky place last upgrades? the scenes? is hitting full swing, how is it year on the circuit’s Formula 1 We have got a few updates, We already have a few designers functioning? debut. It has a bit of a Monaco including bodywork. We have some working on the 2018 car. We The Operations Room has been styled section but with some long things to try on suspension to are still working hard to develop really useful since it went live straights down the back. It is a bit improve the handling and also an the 2017 car and we have a few for Spain. It has helped a lot to bumpy and a very difficult place update to the cooling system to things still planned. As we start understand car performance and for both set-up and driving. We improve the performance a little developing the 2018 model in the set-up after practice sessions. will need good braking stability bit. What we learned from Canada tunnel, we might try and bring Monaco was a good example as it is hard braking with hard and will be useful for Baku especially in some items forward to this year’s of that after our problematic tight corner entries. It has a tricky terms of hard-braking. car. As you go through the season, Thursday. We made a big mix and we probably need three you gradually have less designers improvement courtesy of the different cars; one for each section! on it as some of the attention room where we held meetings switches to next season. We are and managed to make some also working hard behind the changes, find the problems and scenes to improve our capabilities we subsequently found some ” As we start developing the 2018 at Enstone with upgrade programs improvement. in various departments. model in the tunnel, we might try and bring some items forward to this year’s car.” NICO HÜLKENBERG NICO HÜLKENBERG NICO HULKENBURG Castles and cobbles A composed drive from Nico Hülkenberg in Montréal saw him make a return to the points. And the German wants to add to that on the fastest street circuit on the F1 calendar. Nico Hülkenberg / Race Driver #27 Q&A Was it pleasing to be back in the What makes Baku so cool? Is it a tricky circuit to navigate? It was the first Grand Prix in points in Canada? It is still a new venue to Formula 1 There are some walls waiting Baku last year, what do you I think Montréal was a good which is exciting, we are still for you so it is important to be remember from it? weekend overall. Qualifying was getting used to it. Going through quite brave. The viewing is good It was obviously unfamiliar solid and in the race, we got the the old town is cool with the for fans and the speed is cool to surroundings last year as we were best out of the car so four points narrow walls, but it takes time to watch. It is the fastest street circuit all new to the track. But I had a was good for us. I had a lonely race learn the track. I am usually good on the calendar. Overtaking will positive weekend, qualifying in as a whole with some good battles at adapting quickly and learning be possible with the long, DRS twelfth place before making up with Lance [Stroll] and Kevin new tracks and new lines. It is straights. There are a lot of tight, a couple of places in the race [Magnussen] which was fun. exotic and a bit different here. 90-degree turns matched with flat- to come home in ninth with The team did a decent job and There are some cool looking, out kinks, so I am looking forward two points. I remember the first that has been rewarded. vintage houses around. The to racing it. The castle complex practice session last year and We are making good progress. old castle brick wall has a blind of turns 8 to 10 will be especially really enjoying the track as it We have a lot of potential with the entry which is unique, Monaco is close with the wider cars. was different and had a bit of car which we need to discover. It is spacious in comparison! everything. The weekend was very encouraging and I am looking pleasing so hopefully we can build forward to getting out to Baku. on that this year, especially with our recent form. ” I remember the first practice session last year and really enjoying the track as it was different and had a bit of everything.” jolyon palmer jolyon palmer jolyon palmer Within reach Back-to-back eleventh place finishes for Jolyon Palmer means he is getting ever closer to his first points score of the season as he targets a stronger Saturday to propel him Jolyon Palmer / Race Driver #30 into the top ten on race day.