Fernando Alonso: "Interlagos always has an amazing atmosphere"
Fernando, after a disappointing race in Japan, how is the mood of the team ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix?Although we didn't get the maximum from the race in Japan, the mood in the team is still very positive. We know that the car is quick, but we were just unlucky in qualifying, which was a shame as I think I could have scored some points if I had started the race in a better position. We know that we have a very tough battle in the championship against Williams and BMW and so any points I can score in the final two races will be very important.
What memories do you have of racing in Brazil?Interlagos is a circuit that will always be very special to me because I won both my world titles with Renault there. It's one of the most enjoyable races of the year because the fans are so passionate about Formula One and there is an amazing atmosphere all weekend.
Talk us through the challenge of racing at Interlagos...The track surface is usually very bumpy so you need a car that can ride the bumps. As the circuit is anti-clockwise, it's more demanding for the drivers because there are several long left hand corners, which put high g-forces on your neck. To find the right set-up is not easy as there are quick corners, slow corners and a very long straight. The secret of a good lap-time is to have an efficient aero package and a car with good mechanical grip for the middle section of the lap.
Romain Grosjean: "Interlagos will be a great experience"
Romain, after five races, how are you finding life in Formula One? I'm just as happy as I was when I made my debut in Valencia in August. Being a Formula One driver has always been my dream and each time I get in the car still feels very special.
Interlagos will be another new experience – are you looking forward to it?Yes, I'm really excited about racing in Brazil and I don't want the season to end. Interlagos is probably not the easiest circuit, but it's a famous track and driving there will be a great experience for me.
How do you prepare for a new circuit?There are two aspects to my preparation for Brazil. Firstly, because Interlagos is anti-clockwise, I have done lots of training, especially on my neck, to prepare for the physical demands of the track. Also, as I have never driven there before, I have been watching lots of videos to learn the circuit layout. I plan to arrive in Sao Paulo at the start of the week so I can walk the track and experience it for myself.
What are your aims for the weekend?My objectives are to continue learning about Formula One and to gain experience so that I can improve and be as close to Fernando as possible. Hopefully I can have a trouble-free race, the car will be competitive, and I can score some points for the team.
Bob Bell: "We will take an aggressive approach to the end of the season"
Bob, after the podium in Singapore, the team was out of luck in Japan. Sum up the weekend for us...It was disappointing that we came away without any points, especially as Fernando drove a very strong and aggressive race to make up six places. Ultimately we were hampered by the problems we encountered in qualifying, which meant Fernando started back in 16th place. Despite missing out on points, the team still did an excellent job and we can be reasonably satisfied that we got as much out of the race as we could given where we started. Our focus is now on the next couple of races and I believe that if we can qualify well, we can convert that performance into points.
The team faces a close fight in the constructors' championship – chasing Williams and defending against BMW. Does that alter the approach to the final couple of races?I don't think so. We go to every race determined to win and at the very least aiming to finish on the podium, and we're not going to alter our fundamental approach by being defensive to try and protect our position. The only way that we can come out on top relative to both those teams is to take an aggressive approach and try to maximise our finishing positions.
Interlagos is renowned as a bumpy and challenging track for the cars and the drivers – what's the secret to going well there?It's a demanding track for drivers as it's anti-clockwise which puts a lot of demands on them physically. In terms of the car, we will run with quite a lot of downforce and it's important to have a well-balanced car with good stability which gives the drivers confidence. We're also racing at altitude as the circuit is about 800 metres above sea level, which impacts on the power of the engine, so we will need to work on the mapping to optimise engine performance.
It was recently announced that Robert Kubica will drive for Renault in 2010. What has convinced you that he is the man to fulfil Renault's high ambitions for the future?First and foremost he's a very quick and consistent driver who has clearly demonstrated his ability. He's also a real fighter who never gives up, which is a characteristic that fits well with our approach at Renault. Looking to the future, he is definitely somebody who is going to push the team and his hunger for success and leadership qualities on the racetrack will help motivate the team. Finally, on a personal level he is a genuinely nice guy who I believe will work well with our engineers and have a good relationship with the team.
Interlagos: Tech File
Interlagos is a circuit of contrasting extremes, combining slow hairpins with one of the longest straights of the season. Sitting in a natural bowl, it undulates throughout its 4.309 km length, and is notorious for its bumpy surface – although this has improved with resurfacing in recent years. The physical demands of the bumpy circuit are intensified by the fact that it runs anti-clockwise, subjecting the drivers' necks to the opposite loadings experienced at a normal clockwise track. It's a circuit where overtaking is possible, particularly on the entry to turn 1, and the set-up compromise therefore tends to favour straight-line speed over optimum lap-time, to ensure the drivers can make up positions, and defend them, during the 71-lap race.
AerodynamicsThe contrasting nature of the Interlagos circuit makes very different demands on the cars. The first and last sectors are made up primarily of long straights, where good top speed is necessary to maintain competitiveness and protect position; this means a low level of downforce is required. However, the middle sector requires the opposite: high downforce to ensure good grip under acceleration, braking and cornering through the twisting series of hairpins. Balancing these requirements gives an optimum downforce setting for achieving the fastest possible lap-time. However, this optimum is then skewed by the demands of racing with other cars. To do so successfully requires competitive end of straight speeds – and achieving these may drag us away from our optimum downforce to a slightly lower setting which allows the drivers to overtake and defend their position into turn 1.
Fernando explains: "It's very important to get a clean exit and carry good speed through the final corner so you don't come under pressure down the long straight, which is also uphill. The end of the main straight is the best opportunity for overtaking and if you can get in the slipstream you have a good chance to get by at the first chicane."
Mechanical set-up The combination of high and low-speed corners means it is hard to find a suitable mechanical compromise at Interlagos. Just as with our choice of aero level, we prioritise certain sectors of the circuit over others. The most important corner at Interlagos is turn 12, as it determines your speed along the uphill main straight – a full throttle period lasting over 15 seconds. We therefore pay special attention ensuring the car gets a good exit from this corner, even though this can generate some slow-speed understeer in the middle sector. However, any losses incurred with this understeer are outweighed by the benefits in lap-time and competitiveness achieved in sector 3. The second important factor for the mechanical set-up is the track surface. This was traditionally very bumpy, but the recent resurfacing allows the teams to run lower ride heights. The circuit is relatively easy on the brakes, with just three major braking events, and overall braking energy similar to somewhere like Barcelona.
Fernando explains: "The section from turns six to eight is a difficult part of the lap and shows the contrasting nature of Interlagos. You have to treat turns six and seven as one long corner, but it's important to take a very smooth approach and stay off the curbs. It's also bumpy which can unsettle the car and you have to be careful not to oversteer. Then after a high-speed corner, you have turn eight, one of the slowest on the circuit. This time you have to be aggressive with the steering and use the curbs as well as fighting understeer."
TyresInterlagos includes relatively few high-speed corners with high lateral loadings on the tyres. Coupled with a track surface that is not particularly abrasive, this means we can use relatively soft tyres. Consequently, Bridgestone has made available the medium and super-soft compounds from its 2009 range for this weekend.
EngineThe long main straight at Interlagos means engine power is a critical factor at this circuit, and the longest single period at full throttle is over 15 seconds. All the engines, though, must contend with the effects of running at altitude, as the circuit is situated around 800m above sea level. The reduced atmospheric pressure costs the engines around 7% of their power output; as a result, the 62% of the lap spent at full throttle is equivalent to 56% at sea level. While this reduces the demands on some components such as the pistons, other parts of the engine, such as the crankshaft, are still subjected to significant loadings. Driveability is also an important factor, especially through the winding middle sector. The drivers run in the lowest gears at this point on the circuit, with sudden changes of direction and significant brake and throttle inputs. Smooth power delivery can make a real and significant contribution to maintaining a stable balance, and optimum driving lines, in this part of the circuit.
