Formula One news

Victory for Renault from 200th start

The Renault F1 team this afternoon took victory in its 200th Grand Prix start, at the Silverstone circuit where the F1 team made its debut 29 years ago in 1977 and last won in 1983, thanks to a stunning drive from Fernando Alonso.

"This is a very special win - in fact, it has been three special wins in a row for me," Alonso siad. "After Spain and then Monaco, this is another of the classic races that you want to win. The race was really competitive, and tough. We had a set-up on the car that meant it was quite understeery in the first part of the stint, but just got better and better and I could build a lead as the fuel loads came down - although I had a little bit of graining in the second stint that slowed my pace. It was windy out there too, like all weekend, so that made things a little bit unpredictable, and we are not used to this heat in Silverstone. So it was never an easy win, but this shows we are working really hard. There's no secret to this fantastic season."

Giancarlo Fisichella commented, "It was a good race for me, I had a competitive and consistent pace and I was quicker than the cars around me; there was graining in the second stint, like for Fernando, but it cleared up on the final set of tyres and I was able to really push. In the final laps, I was much faster Raikkonen in the first sector, but he was a little bit quicker in the second and third parts because they were running more downforce than us - and as I got near him, I lost grip because of the turbulence and couldn't get close enough to overtake. This was another great result for the team though - just like in Monaco and Barcelona, we scored the most points of anybody today and got both cars to the finish. Canada is next, one of my favourite circuits, and this Renault team is really on a roll at the moment."

Team boss Flavio Briatore added, "I am delighted for our team today to win in Silverstone. This was a special afternoon for all of us, but especially all the people who work just 50 km away in Enstone. Everything was perfect today - the R26 car, the strategy, Fernando and Giancarlo, who deserved a podium today. Congratulations to Michelin as well: they once again brought great tyres for this race."

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