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#14 RACE PREVIEW SINGAPORE Marina Bay // 15/16/17 September 2017 Content // Cyril Abiteboul // Nick Chester // Nico Hülkenberg // Jolyon Palmer // Track Notes Cyril Abiteboul FOREWORD The Singapore Grand Prix marks the start of a busy period on the Formula 1 calendar as we gear up for the first of three races in Asia. Cyril Abiteboul Renault Sport Racing Managing Director Marina Bay is an interesting and challenging street There are two positives to note from the weekend: Matthieu joined Renault Sport in 1998 where he circuit raced under the lights of the night time sky. among our closest rivals, only Williams scored points. has held various positions including the one of Race Its fast kinks and tight and twisty infield means it is And Daniel Ricciardo’s impressive drive from sixteenth Strategist at Enstone from 2008 to 2012. Up until now, much more suited to our car than the previous round in on the grid to fourth place is particularly encouraging. Matthieu has been in charge of the customer track Monza. It meant a Renault engine had a best finish at Monza teams (Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso). since the introduction of the V6 Turbo Hybrid engines We knew Italy would be challenging. Nico looked in a Simultaneously, Ricardo Penteado, Head of the Engine in 2014. good position and was in contention for tenth place. Track Service, will take the direct responsibility for But traffic in front of him meant overtaking was We are now focusing on these busy Asia rounds. all three teams. In his day to day activities, he will be difficult and he had to settle for thirteenth. Williams sit just 21 points ahead of us in fifth place supported by the Lead Engineer from each team. in the Constructors’ Championship and, with seven He will also be in charge of liaising with our customers Jolyon was on a reverse strategy as we had a bit of a races to go, it’s very much in our capability to chase at the track. license to try something different, but we had to retire that down by the end of the season. We need to create his car with a transmission issue to prevent greater Finally, it has been good to see continued success and some momentum and string together some consistent woes. trophies from the Renault Sport Academy. Jack Aitken results with both cars inside the top ten. Singapore will added another podium in the GP3 Series as he remains be vital to kick start this effort. in contention to win the title with Christian Lundgaard Track side, from the Singapore Grand Prix, Matthieu taking three podium finishes including a victory in the Dubois takes on the role of Head of Race Strategy of Spanish F4 Championship. Renault Sport Formula One Team. He will functionally report to our Sporting Director Alan Permane. “ We need to create some momentum and string together some consistent results with both cars inside the top ten.” NICK CHESTER Normal Service A low downforce configuration made things tricky in Monza, but Singapore offers a complete contrast of set-up as Technical Director Nick Chester explains. Nick Chester Renault Sport One Formula One Team Chassis Technical Director Q&A What are the challenges of Are there any updates to deal How do you reflect on recent How are the 2018 developments Singapore? with Marina Bay? weeks? progressing? Firstly, it’s massively different to We’ve made softer rear springs to We’ve kept improving the car We have to get the Halo on the Monza and almost a stark contrast make the rear end more compliant which has been very positive. Since car for next year and that’s a as a high downforce package is which will aid traction. As ever, Silverstone the car has been a big challenge. That will be a big required, and that should suit us you have to get the compromise chunk more competitive. Budapest deal as it changes the chassis pretty well. There are a number right as it’s a balance between a and Spa kept that trend up and construction. There are other of things to look out for: tight compliant chassis and not losing we were the fourth quickest car in developments in the pipeline, we corners, big kerbs and a lot of too much aero performance. We terms of pace. We weren’t as quick are still learning lessons from this traction demands, meaning it have some minor updates to the in Monza, but the upcoming races year’s car and aiming to transfer can be a hard place to get the bodywork which we will evaluate should see us back to the level of that knowledge into next year’s right set-up. But if you have a during the practice sessions. performance we saw at Spa. There car. reasonable amount of downforce are no remaining tracks with super you should have a quick and low downforce. We have good competitive car. We’d expect to be potential to be strong at these back to our Britain, Hungary and next three Asian races. Spa level of performance. ” We’ve kept improving the car which has been very positive. Since Silverstone the car has been a chunk more competitive.” NICO HÜLKENBERG NICO HÜLKENBERG NICO HULKENBURG Night Fever After missing out on the points in Italy, Nico Hülkenberg is set for a showdown under the Singapore night sky. Nico Hülkenberg / Race Driver #27 Q&A Is it a strange feeling to race under the lights? And how is the circuit to drive? What are your feelings after Monza? It takes a little getting used to, but it’s not so bad. It’s been As a track, it’s really tough and physically demanding – We’re finished with Europe, but ultimately Italy was a on the calendar so long that it feels like a normal race. arguably one of the hardest of the season. The lap is long difficult weekend for us as a team. It’s disappointing not It’s a very special Grand Prix and the only real night race with lots of corners and some tight and sharp bits. The to come away with points. I got stuck in traffic in the race we have. We don’t really see the day there! We sleep until high temperature and humidity, combined with the fact and couldn’t do too much. I’m going to get it off the mind lunchtime, and then it’s off to work, so there isn’t much that it’s a street circuit, makes it quite hard. It’s important as soon as possible and gear up for Singapore. I’m looking of a social life for us drivers. The venue is amazing, how to be in top physical shape due to the harsh requirements. forward to it as we should be more competitive; onwards they’ve built it all is fantastic, especially as it’s right in the Safety cars usually come out which makes strategy hard to and upwards. middle of the city. call. “ As a track, it’s really tough and physically demanding – arguably one of the hardest of the season.” jolyon palmer jolyon palmer jolyon palmer Under the lights Singapore kicks off the Asian stint of the calendar with points the only thing on Jolyon Palmer’s mind. Jolyon Palmer / Race Driver #30 Q&A What do you like about What are the challenges of the between FP1 and FP2, then FP3 How do you reflect on Italy? Singapore? circuit? and qualifying. Getting a good It was a tough weekend but we I love Singapore as it’s a highly The final sector is a real challenge handle on the balance of the car knew it was going to be quite unique event under the lights. I’ve with the section under the gives us plenty of work as generally difficult as Monza doesn’t really won there in the GP2 Series and grandstand. It’s tight over the it’s cooler later in the night. It’s not play to the car’s strengths. We it was one of my best wins. In fact, bridge too so you need your wits your usual race weekend! didn’t make the most of qualifying I raced there two years running about you. Stringing a perfect lap and I didn’t make the best start and both years were very good. together is very testing. Over the Do you find the time to see the and fell to the back. I felt good Hopefully I can create more good bridge and the middle of the lap city? in the car, made a few passes, memories there. It’s a cool feeling are pretty tough to get right as It’s a strange weekend as we wake we were in a good place on the driving at night as you can see the you’re braking as you turn so it’s up later than usual with a lot of the reverse strategy but then we had circuit very clearly from the lights easy to lock a wheel, and the last work completed in the evening, a problem and retired. We get the but your vision is channelled as the sector is very tight and twisty. meaning we don’t get too much retirement out of the way now and background is in darkness. time to explore. But the great get ready for Singapore! How does it differ to other thing about the race is that it’s Grands Prix? right in the centre of the city so We see the circuit change a lot you’re surrounded by everything over the weekend as the surface you could want.

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