Symonds plays down Fisico 'hurry-up'.

Renault executive director of engineering Pat Symonds has attempted to untangle the confusion surrounding radio traffic heard between Giancarlo Fisichella and race engineer Alan Permane during the Australian Grand Prix.

While team-mate, and race winner, Fernando Alonso was heard to express just how relaxed he was out front, Fisichella was apparently on the wrong end of an ear-bending from Permane which suggested he needed to put more effort into his recovery drive after stalling on the grid. Symonds, however, had nothing but praise for the Italian.

"It was a great drive from Giancarlo," he insisted, "The car wasn't very well balanced during the middle part of the race, when we knew it was important for Fisi to make up ground, and he was complaining of a lot of understeer. We worked with him on the radio, and he adjusted the differential and traction control to get the car back in balance.

"Things were looking good then, until after the second stop when, while he was chasing Jenson Button, the clutch failed. On a machine as sophisticated as a modern F1 car, all the systems look to protect the car from this kind of problem - and also cost you performance - until you solve it. As soon as we did, Fisi caught Jenson very quickly, and put some pressure on him.

"On a circuit where overtaking is hard, you then have to hope for a mistake from the guy in front, or that he will push his equipment too hard. That's what happened. It's a shame for Jenson, but it was a victory in its own way for Fisico."

Fisichella's start to the season, in which he has taken a first and fifth in three races is still better than 2005, when he had only the win in Melbourne to show for his efforts. This year's tally has not only lifted the Italian into a share of second place behind Alonso in the championship, but has also helped Renault to rack up more impressive numbers than it achieved twelve months ago.

After three races in 2005, the team had scored 36 points from a possible maximum of 54 - a scoring ratio of 67 per cent - but, in 2006, that figure is now 42 from 54, or 77 per cent. Alonso sits on a fantastic personal ratio of 93 per cent, but the real difference comes from Fisichella, who is the real difference between the team's position in 2005 and 2006. He has had his share of problems to deal with, but a combination of speed and determination has put him in a very strong position as the circus heads to Europe.