If the R30 goes as well as it looks with its classic black and yellow colour scheme, Renault should have no issues in 2010!
Renault have had a disastrous couple of years in F1, but they are back with a new owner in Genii Capital, driver lineup in Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov, and team principal in Eric Bouiller. Will they fare any better?
Renault R30
The Renault R30 looks great with it’s black and yellow livery, that harks back to the days when Rene Arnoux was battling Villeneuve in a Renault with a similar colour scheme, but it’s not just the paint job which has changed on the Renault from last year’s R29.
Loading ...The main changes are the result of accommodating the much larger fuel tank for the 2010 rules and re-optimising the car without KERS.
The car has also undergone intense aerodynamic development, with the rear of the car being considerably reworked to allow the car to make the most of the ‘double- decker’ diffusers that were first seen last year.
One possible drawback with the Renault is it’s engine. Like Red Bull Racing, the R30 uses the Renault RS27 engine; while this engine is very good on fuel economy – something very important in 2010 with the refuelling ban, it is down on power in comparison with most other engines, and it also lacks reliability.
Drivers
Robert Kubica was billed as the next big thing, and he has shown good pace, but it has never quite materialised into the championship challenging performances we have expected. His results at BMW Sauber were sporadic, and he has never had the consistency he will be eager to find in 2010.
Vitaly Petrov may be bringing as much as £13 million to Renault in sponsorship money, but the first Russian ever in F1 shouldn’t be dismissed as purely a pay driver. Petrov finished 2nd in the GP2 championship last year, and has been also relatively successful in GP2 Asia. As with all rookie drivers, we will have to see if that translates into good F1 ability.
Unless Michelin return I don't see Renault achieving the blinding success the add in 05-06 (and Renault did say they would return to the top soon so maybe they're betting on them too).
Alonso performed miracles just to get the R29 in the points at times and his podium was well deserved. They may have Kubica but they will undoubtedly still miss Fernando.
Kubica is good but I just don't think he's as good as many make out. He's fussy too so it's a good sign for the team that he hasn't really complained much.
I like Petrov and I think he has promise but all the rookies are a bit of the unknown. Can he beat Kubica? I sincerely doubt it. Kubica overrated or not should have a handle on Vitaly.
Renault have the strength of being on more solid footing now. They don't have Symonds which is a blow but they now know where they stand with the team's future.
Hopefully, they'll have worked out the aero package-didn't Flavio fire a load of guys so they suffered in this area?
I can't believe how short the car seems compared to some others but that's probably an indication that they have a good package, know the car has the right balance and a solid base line to work from even if they do seem off the pace at the moment.
I have to say that the car is looking hot this yea, but whether they will have a hugely successful racing year, we all going to have to wait and see. I have not really be a fan of team Renault, but would like to see how the rest of the racing season pans out for them.
At least Robert Kubica is ranking no 7 at this stage of the season which is excellent he is even above my favorite driver M Schumacher, but Micheal’s return hasn’t been all that successful and I even heard that he wont be returning next year.
This is one of the best F1 sites that I have found and really enjoying it a lot, just have to somehow petition getting the F1 back in South Africa, really miss the races.
Regards
Tim