There's sth strange about those news. AFAIR Renault built lightest ever chassis last year, and now they say it will be even lighter. There were even reports last year, that the car is too light! How is that possible? Did they find Holy Graal to make matter weigh less? I don't know about credibility of this info, they had some mishits lately.

Or maybe it was BS that R29 was so light?

I think that it would be stange only if in this year rules would stay the same as they were in 2009. Since refuelling is baned the weight distribution is even more crucial. Remember that wegiht of the car will significantly diffrent at the beginning of the race and on final laps. I have no idea how they will solve this, but I'm sure that balast plays big role in this, so I suppose lighter front is helpful.

Kubica might start testing alone, 4 drivers still on the running for the 2nd seat

When I read that on the Autosport front page, all I could say to myself was, "Are they ****ing stupid?"

Honestly, what is the deal? They MUST sign a second driver for testing, as far as I am concerned. Otherwise, when is the second driver going to get familiar with the car? The races? A bit late, don't you think?!


SIGN A SECOND DRIVER, RENAULT.

If I recall correctly, there are as many as 4 test sessions scheduled ahead of Bahrain GP...

So they have a shortlist of five drivers: Heidfeld, Sato, Villeneuve, d'Ambrosio and Tung.

Then Petrov enters the fray.

And now Renault have said they may not settle on a second driver until later.

I think that's pretty telling.

In what way?

Where the hell are you picking the 5th driver from?

Boullier is clearing saying "We are still looking at several drivers available on the market. Two of them are experienced, two of them are rookies."

Heidfeld and Petrov he indirectly mentions. So that levaes to discover who is the another experienced driver (Sato, IMHO) and the other rookie (I think d'Ambrosio). The Villeneuve think is more than utter BS as it was with Lotus and USF1.

Finally, I think it's fair to say Boullier prefers Heidfeld (thinks he is the best oprion), but somehow the fact that he has been teammate to RK for 3.5 years makes him somewhat sceptical. And there's also the money factor.

You don't think it's significant that Petrov, who has never been seriously connected to the role the way the likes of Heidfeld has, is confirmed as being in talks with Renault and twenty-four hours later Renault are saying they may delay the signing of their second driver? Why else would they do that if they didn't want to allow themselves a bit of extra time to come to an agreement with Petrov? They clearly like the prospect of him driving for them, and if it's to happen, they're not going to be their own worst enemies by putting a time limit on it.


I'm just reepating what certain other people have been posting throughout this thread and the Heidfeld one.


Evidently the users I am quoting are wrong.


Boullier mentions French, Russian, Chinese, German and Austrian drivers. I don't think that was accidental given that Vitaly Petrov, Ho-Pin Tung, Nick Heidfeld and Christian Klien are still looking for drives. As for the reference to a French driver, he could mean Romain Grosjean, but as he two experienced (Heidfeld and Klien) and two rookie (Tung and Petrov) drivers, I think we can put the French reference down to Renault being a French team.


I'm not seeing it. The part about Boullier liking Heidfeld more than the others, I mean. All he admits is hat Heidfeld is a possible candidate and that the things the team has to consider about him are differet to the considerations for other drivers.

I was thinking the bit about nationalities obviously means:

Russian: Petrov
French: Grosjean/d'Ambrosio
German: Heidfeld
Austrian: Klien
Chinese: Tung

But Boullier had better get negociations going swiftly and sign someone soon. A team principal is judged by who he signs and how well he runs the team.

But what Tightpants said about Petrov does make a lot of sense.

Or equally they're playing hardball with Nick on wages.

Maybe, but Heidfeld has probably been talking with Renault since at least the time the rumours of Michael Schuamcher going to Mercedes started up. Certainly since it started becoming a reality. If they haven't worked out anything by now, why give him more time? How is that playing hardball? Playing hardball is when you give the driver a choice of my-way-or-the-highway: either accept the terms we're offering, or don't drive. Saying they'll allow for extra time is not hardball at all. It's soft. If hey want Heidfeld and they want him on their terms, putting a time limit on his signing the deal is the most effective way to play hardball.

Reading the article i dont get the feeling they want to pair Kubica and Heidfeld again.
Personally i dont think it would be a good decision, sure Heidfeld is solid but they need a fresh lineup.

As i see it, its between Villeneuve (experience) and Petrov (money)
I dont see Sato or either of the young Gravity drivers (Tung/ D'Ambrosia) as options.
Klien is a rookie too, lets face it he's hardly done any miles in the BMW and has few GP's under his belt.

Renault NEVER hired a pay driver. I dont think they should start now..
Renault could do with an experienced driver, someone that can help develop the car, Kubica is still quite a young driver like Rosberg and Hamilton his peers, they really need someone with some experience like Villeneuve.

A rookie would be a big mistake in my opinion, look at how Piquet and Grosjean performed.
Its really important they get an experienced driver i think....

It's no accident that Boullier mentioned Russian, Chinese, German and Austrian drivers. When did Jacques Vileneuve change his nationality?


Or they could get someone like Heidfeld, who has actually been relevant for the past decade.


They have an experienced driver: Kubica.

Yes Heidfeld or Klien. Both are better than Villeneuve ...

do you think that after such a long brake Villeneuve would actually be very useful in developing a car? Firstly he'd have to develop his skills back, what i doubt, but only than he could eventually help to make some progress with R30.

And besides, I think Kubica is experienced enough, but this aside.

Villeneuve, ha that's a laugh.

I doubt the problem was that it was too light. I guess they meant it lacked stifness and rigidity becasue it was designed to be so light.

What an insightful post f1seb, thanks....

My opinion, if De La Rosa, 39 and Schumacher, 41 are not too old then neither is Jacques.
No need to remind anyone that Villeneuve beat Schumacher for the WDC... good thought not.
For a minute there i thought some people were suggesting that Villeneuve never achieved anything in F1...
Villeneuve is good at car development, this is something Renault need and if Schumacher can get up to speed in 3 days, after 3 years out saying "its like he has never been away" i dont think its hard to believe JV could too..

Actually they are not real Renault anymore. They sold out to Mr Lopez. Can't understand why we are still talking about Renault.
They are ex-Renault.

let me guess... Their name is still Renault? Just a blind shot, so I might be wrong.

They are still called Renault. That's why we are still talking about Renault.

I really don't get it. If they are not signing Nick, they have a motivated, hungry WDC with tons of experience and a huge fan base standing there waiting for a wheel.
What is there to think about? Sign Villeneuve or you've made the wrong decision.
And you who said Klien is better than Villeneuve, what are you smoking?

Ah yes, Mr. Lopez. Pictured here (on the right) with recently signed up Gravity driver, Jacques Villeneuve:

http://img706.imageshack.us/i/villeneuve24hspa092az.jpg/
http://img715.imageshack.us/i/villeneuve24hspa091a.jpg/

I think because the Renault brand is more attractive to sponsors.

Come on, you are cheating yourself. There is no way someone could interpret this interview with Boullier that they are talking with JV!

Villeneuve won't drive for Reno, just face it.

Testing with one driver is not ideal. Quite risky strategy. What if he is injured or got bad flu just in test days?

But I am thinking they are forced to that. They just still right sponsors for right money. Maybe they can't agree the price? So it might be:

(optimistic) Renault is sure the car will show good pace in tests and they will be able to squiz more money from sponsors
(pessimistic) sponsors are not sure how good car is and they want to wait for tests to make their desision

2nd driver decision might be directly related to sponsors budget. If they contract good revenue they will go for experienced driver. If car shows little promise they will accept paid driver to fill gaps in budget.

another changes:



http://www.tomorrownewsf1.com/f1-renault-f..._medium=twitter

Are we still talking about BMW Sauber? Not really...despite the fact their name is still BMW Sauber. Nevermind. I just complain "in the bitternes of my soul" What a wonderful season we are going to have! I'm very, very

Interesting thoughts Gemini....

Im thinking what if they put Petrov in and the car is good, Kubica gets it regularly in the points but Petrov is consistantly bang in the middle of the pack, not scoring anything.. how will that help Renault?
Sure they get the sponsorship that Petrov brings... but that wont help develop the car or help improve the brand image... a "pay driver" in the middle of the pack not bringing home points. Championship points = Prize money, so swings and roundabouts...
And lets face it Petrov looked pretty ordinary in GP2, nothing to shout about.

Surely Renault cant take a risk like that, they need an experienced driver that can pick up points and push the team forward.
You would have to think if they are going experienced it would be Villeneuve or Heidfeld.
You can be absolutely certain, JV would push Kubica...

So a guy who has JV's photo as avatar claims Vitaly Petrov would be a huge risk for Renault...

It seems that Klien is talking with Reno for real:



Source

they treat heidfeld as the most probable option, which I'm not sure of. But Klien... Brings no money, no speed in comparison to heidfeld, so why talk to him? This is just so f*cked up...

I have to laugh at some people around here who denounce others opinions as being less than opinions of their own. I believe this is why they are called opinions and not facts.
My opinion is that the team at this stage is probably looking at 3 drivers seriously and measuring what each of those drivers can bring to the team and also looking at a corporate strategy based each of these 3 possible drivers to gain more financial investment from the international market...
The three drivers in my opinion are Heidfeld, Petrov and Villeneuve.

Ehh this split among Heidfield thread, Renault thread and Silly Season thread is so annoying

I don't want co copy my post in all this treads, so look on this: Nick Heidfeld primary option for Reno

But if you read between the lines (Boullier's comments) I think Petrov is a front runner for the seat.
The delay might be associated with the fact that it could be difficult to nail down (read: negotiate) how much money he'll be bringing
with him.

now I'm starting to think that confidential renault made a good point, and the delay is caused by heidfeld demanding 5m salary, which they want to give him but only from the sponsors' money.

You can see Boullier has reservations about taking Heideld because of how it will affect Kubica potentially.

He's right, it's a bad move.

Get Klien or Petrov or Sato or anyone else in there, cos you don't want BMW Mark II, aint' nothing about BMW that Renault should be looking to emulate atm.

Yes Boullier said that in his interview. yet he also said that the team is evaluating about it.
Boullier will take Heidveld if it does not bother their program AND bring more points back home.

So I was thinking, is it Boullier or Kubica who says No to Heidveld?

I other words:

Is it Bouiller who does not want BMW saga messing up his outfit, or is it Kubica who wants other team? I was not sure if BMW had any problem between the drivers at all within the team?

But what has the catastrophe called BMW to do with the Kubica-Heidfeld pairing? That was caused by them stupid managment decisions, and the HEI-KUB was a very good pairing, I never heard that one driver was complaining about the other, Kubica was complaining at BMW that they are helping Nick to score points and not him to fight for WDC but he never complained about Nick.
I think they were good team mates, they complemented one another, when a track/car setup doesn't suited one driver, it suited the another in much cases, I think that is a ideal combo.
And talking that the team atmosphere is destroyed by HEI-KUB pairing is pure BS from Polish press.

I don't think that Kubica has anything to say about the 2nd seat, c'mon people, I'm a fan of him, I thinking he is incredibly fast, but talking that he can say No to Heidfeld is overpraising

Kubica himself said he will be out of this decision making soe time go, I was directing my opinion more to the direction of Boullier. Still I can't see that, unless he think that Klien (!) Petrov or Sato is a better choice. Petrov and Sato mayhave unknown factor but Klien...

they are aiming for retired driver, they postponed decision because his fitness is still questionmark

JV you mean?

Villeneueve´s time in F1 is over. His pace in 2004 (5 years ago !) Renault car was a shame.

I wouldn´t say that Klien is generally a better driver, but today he is, because he is younger and he had more experience with the current F1 cars.

I get the impression that Renault is very cash stripped and are really going by who brings more money or sponsors. I'm sorry but I don't agree with the Renault boss that they are an established team. They were - I dont think they are as established/stable anymore with selling stake in the company and not having attracted as much sponsors as other teams.

You really struggle to convince me. These cars are way more suited to JVs style of driving than the ones he drove -2006. No refuel, slick tires, I'd say JV has plenty of more experience than Klien in kind of conditions. And for the record, JV was within a tenth of Alonso in his 3rd race at Renault, after sitting out the entire year.
If JV doesn't think his time is over it isn't. We'll just have to wait and see when and where he gets his hands on a wheel. Klien is better than Schumacher too?

They might not be great friends but I haven't heard anything to suggest they don't get on. All I know about their off-track relationship is that they discuss things with each other, that they got lost in a media centre together and that they once carefully stuck an obscenity on the back of Markus Winkelhock. For drivers who've been so closely matched for so long that's probably as good as being great friends.

lol

I don't believe for a thousandth of a second that JVi could end up with a ride at Renault (or any outlet, really) but after seeing Fisi trundle much near to the complete back of the field in a Ferrari, I thought the "he couldn't cope in 2004" argument would have been obliterated from anyone's thoughts. He was not Schumacher-esque in his 3 race stint at Renault, but he wasn't *bad* by any mean.

Another interview wtih Boullier, this time on ESPNF1:

http://en.espnf1.com/renault/motorsport/story/7056.html