Renault recover from Friday drama for podium

38 comments on “Renault recover from Friday drama for podium”

1. 

   RIISE (@riise)
   11th April 2011, 16:49

   What was it in the end that Petrov drove over? Was it just a bump, or something to with the draining? Either way it should be rectified for next season.
   1. 

      BasCB (@bascb)
      11th April 2011, 17:03

      I think it was a gully for channeling rain water off the track. Monsoon size gully.
   2. 

      RandomChimp (@randomchimp)
      11th April 2011, 17:28

      I noticed Schumacher went off the track earlier in the race at the same place but got back on the track just before the invisible ramp Petrov managed to find. If I recall he actually just went over the beginning of the gulley and didn’t have any problems.

      I think Petrov was quite unlucky, it wasn’t actually the rain gulley that launched him but the join between astro turf, concrete and real grass:
      1. 

         RandomChimp (@randomchimp)
         11th April 2011, 17:28

         video:

         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGvU_4RpKPc
         1. 

            zecks
            11th April 2011, 17:54

            early candidate for crash of the season?
            1. 

               jon legg
               11th April 2011, 20:25

               best so far……..

               this pic shows it from another angle:

               http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljg64ttbS91qbm0mn.png

               and this is what i thought as he sailed through the air

               http://dl.dropbox.com/u/427712/petrovHazard.m4v
            2. 

               Adam Tate (@adam-tate)
               11th April 2011, 22:05

               Easily! Though I was disappointed for Petrov, it was an awesome sight to see. An exciting crash, but a relatively safe one.
      2. 

         damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
         12th April 2011, 6:03

         I noticed Schumacher went off the track earlier in the race at the same place but got back on the track just before the invisible ramp Petrov managed to find.

         No, Schumacher went off at turn 6, whereas Petrov went off at turn 8. But I think it was Villeneuve in 1999 (well, it was a BAR) that spun where Petrov was launched and it was quite violent as well.
2. 

   dyslexicbunny
   11th April 2011, 16:50

   It really looked like the wheels weren’t turning before the jump. But then again, I “watched” the race on the couch while nursing a hangover and only woke up when I heard “holy s***” and saw his air.

   If Bernie wants to improve the show, there needs to be a jump in the circuit. It works in Mario Kart, it’ll work here.
   1. 

      Sushi Meerkat
      11th April 2011, 19:00

      KERS system and DRS system, :D, are essentially the Mushrooms from Mario Kart Video Game, The Game.

      Rubens Barrichello is the Blue Shell
      :D
3. 

   RIISE (@riise)
   11th April 2011, 16:54

   while nursing a hangover

   Before hangover I was expecting something very very different from your comment. Oh well that’s what I get for watching Top Gear and Jeremy Clarkson too much.
   1. 

      Randy (@randy)
      11th April 2011, 17:31

      Hell, i was nursing a semi when i saw both Renaults streaming past Ferraris and McLarens on the start.

      There You have it.
      1. 

         RandomChimp (@randomchimp)
         11th April 2011, 17:42

         Randy by name…
4. 

   Eggry (@eggry)
   11th April 2011, 17:19

   Well, now it’s certain that Renault and Mercedes has changed their position. to be honest I thought they could be faster than Ferrari but it isn’t. They cannot match Ferrari’s race pace but they could challenge in quali. They’re very serious threat to Ferrari for a while.
   1. 

      Atticus (@atticus-2)
      11th April 2011, 17:28

      Yeah definitely. They were the nemesis of the Pracing Horse in Melbourne as well Petrov and Alonso coming together again. So they seem to be direct opponents in terms of raw one-lap pace.

      Though I have not seen a car having this much of a difference in terms of short and long stints as the 150° Italia this year. Almost a second.

      Another interesting point ot make is how drivers seem to handle the last stints: they are unlike the previous ones, where they seem to get on a consistent pace pushing it until tyres starting to go off in a consistent pattern also. On the last stints however they seem to nurse the tyres, keeping just enough pace to position themselves on the track nicely compared to others, not pushing all along. This has the rewards of the possibility of some more performance lft to be used when it’s appropriate – such as Nick did against Webbo at the end of the race.

      Of course it could have been another ‘mix’ of fuel or another ‘plan’ of engine programmes.
   2. 

      butterdori (@butterdori)
      11th April 2011, 19:10

      I think Ferrari’s edge to Renault is very slight though.

      Plus, since Alonso and Massa are better than Heidfeld and Petrov respectively, for all we know, the cars may be more equal than we think.
      1. 

         Adam Tate (@adam-tate)
         11th April 2011, 22:08

         A great point butterdoi.
      2. 

         US_Peter (@us_peter)
         12th April 2011, 3:16

         Not to mention the fact that Renault had very minimal time on Friday to do their setup work compared to Ferrari and everyone else. I’m hoping they can get a good race setup in China and challenge for the podium again!
         1. 

            Atticus (@atticus-2)
            12th April 2011, 18:35

            Well Ferrari also had little time for the specifical Sepang setups because of their aero tests.

            Or course it’s a smaller ‘problem’ to what Renault had to endure and I barely know how much time they spent on it because I was half stoned. :D

            But butterdori really has a point. Interesting to see how their pace develop through the year: can Renault outperform Ferrari in the long haul or can Ferrari play an resultful catch-up to Red Bull and/or McLaren?
5. 

   Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
   11th April 2011, 18:24

   Best retirement of the last 15 years, for sure!

   It was epic!
   1. 

      dyslexicbunny
      11th April 2011, 18:30

      Over Webber’s flight maneuver last year? Hardly.
      1. 

         Eggry (@eggry)
         11th April 2011, 18:47

         broken steering wheel column was great.
   2. 

      Fixy (@)
      11th April 2011, 19:55

      Also lucky because it could have been very dangerous, being without steering wheel. Luckily he was safe and we can enjoy the replays :P
6. 

   davey (@djdaveyp87)
   11th April 2011, 18:32

   Good job renault. Unlucky Petrov, but thanks for the entertaining air. Unfortunately you don’t get the biggest air awards as that goes to Wbber for Valencia last year, and I think Glocks air in Australia in 2009 also beats it. But good effort.
   1. 

      Sushi Meerkat
      11th April 2011, 19:04

      I’m in two minds really, Webber’s Valencia auditions for the Red Bull Air Race was pretty good, but the energy from Glocks Air Rave maneuver actually made the crane cam shake, hence was spectacular because one minute he was fine driving all on his lonesome and its as if his car went “sorry Timo but, RANDOM EXPLOSION!”.
7. 

   dim23 (@)
   11th April 2011, 18:52

   Renault got lucky and took another podium, but can they do that again in China? On race pace they look a bit slower than Mclarens and at least one of the Ferraris, but they can chalenge them at the start, they have very good acceleration and that may help them, i’m hoping for that.
   1. 

      James
      11th April 2011, 19:20

      Lucky? I dont think luck has anything to do with it. Petrov has come of age and Heidfield appears to be getting on top of the car. Both drove outstanding races, had great starts and doing a fine job.

      Their strategy was spot on, especially Heidfield’s, which allowed him to get into the top 3 in the later stages of the race
      1. 

         dim23 (@)
         11th April 2011, 20:22

         I still believe they were lucky. In Autralia Petrov’s 3’rd was Button’s place, if he didn’t get the penalty. In Malaysia Heidfield 3’rd should have been Alonso’s place or Hamilton’s if only there wouldn’t have been the incident between them. Its clear Renault are a bit slower than Mclarens and Ferraris, but they handle tyres better than Ferraris, and have good starts which helps them too.
      2. 

         HxCas (@hxcas)
         12th April 2011, 1:45

         I think they were a little lucky, but they have shown that whenever there is an issue with the top teams they are right there in a position to claim points and podiums
8. 

   Leggacy
   11th April 2011, 19:25

   best crash so far……..

   quite like this shot if it:

   http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljg64ttbS91qbm0mn.png

   :)
   1. 

      AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
      11th April 2011, 21:29

      Not bad ;)
9. 

   Sergio
   11th April 2011, 20:12

   HA HA epic picture mate!!!
   That one did made me laugh a lot!

   Good race for the Renault’s, great start by both.
   Some solid strategy, decent pace and entertaining stuff by Petrov.
   Too bad for that broken mount on his steering column…

   Cheers
10. 

    BS (@bs)
    11th April 2011, 20:29

    Shame about Petrov’s crash really, even though it looked completely awesome. His own characterization is spot on. He made a small mistake that definitely shouldn’t have had the consequences it did. It was indeed very reminiscent of Glock’s crash in Aus 2009.

    Good to see them up there with Ferrari. Such a shame Kubica isn’t around to show what the car is really capable of, not to mention I don’t care much for either Heidfeld of Petrov.
11. 

    Dafffid (@dafffid)
    11th April 2011, 20:47

    Glad Heidfeld got on the podium – I think he was unlucky with the location of the Renault pit-box. I could be wrong but it looked like he was held in his box at the first stop due to the 50 metre rule, costing him at least one place at that point. Teams are going to need to figure that in when they’re stopping at the same time as others whose garages are behind them.
12. 

    AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
    11th April 2011, 21:28

    Thought there would have been a mention that Petrov didn’t bother to lift off the throttle! Surely that’s what put him in the air, could see it coming.

    Nevertheless, another good result for them, hope they both finish better in China.

    They’re managing to make Ferrari look like amateurs at the moment.
    1. 

       Enigma (@enigma)
       11th April 2011, 23:34

       I think he didn’t lift because Hamilton was close to him, on fresh tyres. Noone would expect such jump anyway!

       I wonder how much longer he’d stay in the air if his wings were upside down :)
13. 

    wasiF1 (@wasif1)
    12th April 2011, 3:15

    The start by Heidfeld was great, shame for Petrov a mistake of his own.
14. 

    MattHT (@mattht)
    12th April 2011, 20:20

    I can see the odd win for Renault this year. Honest. Podiums-a-plenty at least.

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