Formula One news
Fisichella happy with strong Monaco run
27 May 2007 / Results / PhotosThe ING Renault F1 Team scored its best result of the 2007 season so far with a fourth-place finish for Giancarlo Fisichella in the Monaco Grand Prix.
The Italian started from the same position and produced a mistake-free, competitive drive to finish twenty seconds ahead of his closest rival. Running a two stop strategy, and using hard tyres for the first stint before switching to the softer compound, he was able to build a comfortable gap in the opening stint, maintain it during the second, and then conserve the car during the final laps.
His team-mate Heikki Kovalainen endured a more difficult afternoon. Starting from 15th on the grid after having his qualifying run spoiled on Saturday afternoon, the Finn ran a one-stop strategy, using hard tyres followed by the soft. He was held up by David Coulthard's Red Bull through the first stint, and with overtaking almost impossible in Monaco, was unable to pass. He jumped ahead of the Briton at his pit-stop, but was subsequently left too far from other rivals to make up further positions. The Finn was classified 13th overall.
Giancarlo Fisichella: "It was a very good result for me and the team, and encouraging for the future. We should be proud of the job we did at the circuit this weekend, and say thank you to all the people in the factory whose hard work made it possible. The car had more grip thanks to a new wing, and the consistency was much better too. I was happy with the race I drove, pushing all the way through the first two stints until we knew for sure that my position was safe. It was good to finish ahead of BMW for the first time, and now we have some more time to push again at the factory, and make more progress. Canada is another good circuit for me, so hopefully we can take another step forward there."
Heikki Kovalainen: "I think this was a weekend to forget for me. It didn't start well, qualifying was difficult, and I wasn't able to make up any ground in the race. I got stuck behind Coulthard in the first stint and although I got past him at the stops, and pushed hard after that, it wasn't enough to catch the cars in front. Then at the end, something happened with the engine and I lost almost all the power and drive. It is all the more frustrating because the car felt good through the weekend, but at the critical points, it just didn't happen for me. I suppose the race was really spoiled on Saturday afternoon, but that's history now. It's time to look forward to Canada, where I think we can be confident of a competitive performance. It's another new track for me, and I am looking forward to driving there."
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