Pressiteade
Fernando’s F1 career has been meshedwith that of Renault. He started with the team as a 21-year-old in 2002 andsecured his first-ever win in 2003. Both his drivers’ titles were sealed withRenault, first in 2005 and again the next year. He later returned to the teamin 2008 and 2009.
Fernando and the team are howeversquarely looking forward and the visit this week was to get ahead of the gamefor 2021. Over the two-day visit to Enstone Fernando completed a full day inthe on-site driver-in-the-loop simulator, a seat fit and engineering meetingswith Renault DP World F1 Team technical management, plus a visit to the windtunnel to see progress for next year. Fernando then flew to Paris to catch upwith Renault engine technicians at Viry as he visited the dynos and enginebuild workshops at the French site.
“Being back at Enstone was a very goodexperience, they were very emotional days,” commented Fernando. “A lot ofthings have changed; the simulator is new, the wind tunnel has been updated,but a few things are the same: there are the same offices, the gym that I usedto visit a lot…
“It was a like a first day at school,with lots of things to learn and get through, but it was very productive. I’vefollowed a programme in the simulator, getting used to the car a little,testing the facilities – last time I was here the simulator didn’t exist! ThenI had a seat fit and meetings with key people to understand the programme fornext year. It was really just getting up to speed.
“I think the team is in good shape forthe future. The last few races were encouraging for everyone, for myself too.To see Renault back in a competitive manner is a good thing for the sport andI’ve been delighted to see the improvements. We’ve still got a long way to goand the midfield is very tight but I think the guys have done an amazing jobtrackside. The last couple of races were very exciting to watch and I amlooking forward to being back in the mix. I’ll now follow what the team needs frommy side – some sim days, helping some weekends and being available for the teamfor anything they need.”
Renault DP World F1 Team Team Principaland Managing Director Cyril Abiteboul added, “It’s been great to see Fernandoback at the team in person. He’s hugely motivated to have the best startpossible. He wants to be very involved in the preparations. Spending three daysat Enstone and Viry gave both sides the opportunity to restart those links andset the foundations at a very early stage, which will be critical to hit theground running in 2021, a key year in our progress as a team.”
B-roll broadcast-quality images and alonger-form interview with Fernando, plus a wide selection of photos of hisvisit are available for media to download on the Renault DP World F1 Team mediasite:
