AN:
We have obviously got the same engine as Pat has in the back. Other than that I wouldn’t like to say. We are certainly very happy with the service
Renault have provided us. We are a customer but we do not feel like a customer. They give us extremely good support in all areas and we are very happy with that.
Q:
So the fact you haven’t said no means it is a yes really?
AN:
No, I didn’t say that. It is difficult to judge really. It is very difficult to judge the relative power of engines installed in the car because you have got so many different factors. It is difficult to tell sometimes.
Q:
Willy, what modifications have you made?
WR:
We have quite a number of small modifications on the aerodynamic side, mainly on the bodywork. The most obvious parts are engine cover – basically a different fin – and rear wing mounted on a so-called centre strut which is new for us, which we have introduced here; basically tested last week but introduced here for the first time.
Q:
I remember last year you stepped up the pace of development to have something new at every race. Have you done the same again this year?
WR:
Yes. In principal we keep the same: bringing new components for each race and up to now we have been able to do so and we still want to do it. We don’t think that waiting for a huge update to be ready and developed is the right thing for us. That’s our opinion. We believe more in optimising the car as it is because the car still has potential for further development.
Q:
Aldo, modifications here?
AC:
It’s obvious that we have changed the nose, the nose concept is different, and then there are other small details from the aerodynamic point of view on the bodywork, on the diffuser, that we have changed for this race. So mainly the changes are aerodynamic parts.
Q:
Why have you changed the nose if, as someone says, it’s not a major change?
AC:
It’s one of the aerodynamic changes that we had on the way during the winter. It probably took a little bit more time because it’s more difficult from the crash [test] point of view, so we decided to come here with the different nose. It’s a programme that we had to develop as with all the other aerodynamic developments that we are doing.
