Official: 2007 Team Renault - Page 2

Mr V · 6 Sep 2006, 17:40 (Ref:1703505)

As people say, not the strongest line up on the grid. Hiekki is a future star no doubt and i wouldn't be surprised if he out does Fisi next year.

ralf fan · 6 Sep 2006, 17:57 (Ref:1703530)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr V

As people say, not the strongest line up on the grid. Hiekki is a future star no doubt and i wouldn't be surprised if he out does Fisi next year.

I would be suprised if he doesnt beat Fisi or atleast be on par with him...... unless the departure of Alonso magically boosts Fisi

Knowlesy · 6 Sep 2006, 18:06 (Ref:1703543)

Heikki, once he learns the ropes, will do very well indeed I imagine. Definitely one to watch. But straight into the possible WC team for your first year? Could be tricky, but then he has at least worked with them a couple of years already.

Fisi, well, we know the damage he can inflict to opponents and the points he can snare from rivals with daring manouvres and cunning defence.

And nice to see all remains largely as is. I don't expect to see much success next year, but there should be some highlights for renault.

VilleneuveTracy · 6 Sep 2006, 19:22 (Ref:1703640)

There are two proven drivers who were available that would have done more in the Renault in 2007 than Fisi will do...Renault's morale must be next to nothing heading into 2007, knowing they need a miracle to even come close to the WDC or WCC.

**chunterer** · 6 Sep 2006, 19:25 (Ref:1703645)

Quote:

Originally Posted by VilleneuveTracy

There are two proven drivers who were available that would have done more in the Renault in 2007 than Fisi will do...Renault's morale must be next to nothing heading into 2007, knowing they need a miracle to even come close to the WDC or WCC.

Well I can think of one.... but don't lets get back to certain types of driver not suiting modern F1 again

There was no way they were going to drop Fizzi and leave both seats to new drivers/hotheads/rookies (delete as appropriate).

If the car's any good again next year either driver will be capable of wins at least. Maybe Renault will settle for that in the holding year?

chillibowl · 6 Sep 2006, 19:34 (Ref:1703657)

without a title sponsor next year how high can their hopes be for 2007?

granted they have an excellent package and an excellent staff to begin with, but without mild seven's money development will surely be affected. so maybe it as Chunterer and oothers have suggested, that for a holding year this driver pairing might be exactly what they need. if they do poorly blame fisi and if they do well its an unexpected boon.

grandprix.com ran an article today suggesting that renault may get UPS next year which according to them means a brown and white car (and probably a pit crew dressed like UPS delivery people

)

Matski · 6 Sep 2006, 20:28 (Ref:1703733)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillibowl

(and probably a pit crew dressed like UPS delivery people

)

LMAO

Maybe Michelin could sponsor them.

djinvicta · 6 Sep 2006, 21:08 (Ref:1703761)

Looks like Fisi will have his last year in a "top" team. I think hell get shown up next year as he has this year

F1Pete · 6 Sep 2006, 21:43 (Ref:1703778)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeeRam

After what Pat Symonds was wearing at the Goodwood Revival Meet last Saturday, I'm surprised the team hasn't been renamed Team Showwaddywaddy..............

Didn't HK beat MS as well as Loeb in the Race of Champions.....?

Yep, Heikki beat Schumacher in a Ferrari to boot. Can't remember what model it was though. It was hilarious when Heikki won the race, he jumped out of the car and started jumping up and down on the roof of the Ferrari. The commentators were freaking out because it was an expensive car and not good to be stomping up and down on the roof. That was too funny.

fantasytoca · 6 Sep 2006, 22:05 (Ref:1703798)

Great news for Heikki - and if there is a driver in the paddock who deserves it he does.

I would definitely rate Heikki as being good for a podium next year - and maybe even a win or two.

Having followed Heikki since watching him have his first ever run in a Formula 3 car many years ago, I am well chuffed tonight that he is going to get a crack at a top drive.

Last2LiftOff · 6 Sep 2006, 23:05 (Ref:1703821)

No change for Fisichella next year; same team and still the number 2 driver.

freud · 7 Sep 2006, 03:15 (Ref:1703906)

Renault really stole MS's thunder! I believe Heikki (and Kimi moving into Ferrari) will be good for F1.

Its pretty obvious now that 4 days from now, MS is either retiring or MS and Kimi are pairing together for 2007 (I seriusly doubt if that will happen).

deejay · 7 Sep 2006, 10:43 (Ref:1703989)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ralf fan

Well sadly thats the best lineup Renault could come up with and it was expected.

Well I still tend to think they'd have been better off with a Webber/Heikki combo. But I guess that didn't suit Flavio...

This is a big endorsement of Heikki though. Good luck to him.

Dixie Flatline · 7 Sep 2006, 12:01 (Ref:1704059)

Quote:

Originally Posted by deejay

Well I still tend to think they'd have been better off with a Webber/Heikki combo. But I guess that didn't suit Flavio...

This is a big endorsement of Heikki though. Good luck to him.

Maybe, but Renault signed Fisichella very quickly (relatively to the other movements in the driver market, except for Alonso going to McLaren), so we'll never find out.

Chatters · 7 Sep 2006, 12:43 (Ref:1704098)

Hopefully Ferrari will be competitive next year with Kimi (

), and I have a gut feeling that Renault will be going down...

Molotov · 7 Sep 2006, 13:37 (Ref:1704162)

I think this is the worst driver line up for a top 2 team in the last 10 years only rivaled by the Damon Hill - Nigel Mansell/Coulthard driver line up at Williams in 1994, it was Damon's 2nd F1 season, Nigel was done and Coulthard was a rookie.

**Bononi** · 7 Sep 2006, 19:42 (Ref:1704434)

Maybe they know something we don't...

pforrester · 7 Sep 2006, 21:06 (Ref:1704500)

Much as I like Fisichella, he's going to have to destroy Heikki next year for me to consider him as still being a top line driver. Let's face it, he's never looked like beating Alonso on a consistent basis (he impressed me at Indy this year, but that's been about it during the last two years).

To be fair, any driver line up is going to look second rate when you've had Alonso, but I look forward to seeing how HK does next year. You've got to think the car will be good, because of or despite the switch to Bridgestone, so it should still be capable of challenging for wins at least.

Still would have liked to see Raikkonen there next season, but hey. Will it matter who they have driving for them when Alonso wins title number three next season.......?!

Molotov · 7 Sep 2006, 21:49 (Ref:1704532)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bononi

Maybe they know something we don't...

Let's hope they do, maybe Alonso is getting all the best equipment after all. I can't see Heikki being a championship contender in his first year, he was good in GP2 but he didn't blow me away like Hamilton is doing.

deejay · 7 Sep 2006, 21:56 (Ref:1704536)

Fisi has been more on par with Alonso through the mid-season - arguably sharing honours with him. Indy was his. Germany probably would have been his if not for the championship situation. Turkey he would have been right there as well if not for the first corner (which again was Fisi taking a dive for the team).

So maybe he's starting to gel with the team at last and will rise to a championship contender next season when he should have the full team support. I certainly hope so, I was a fan of Fisi and have been very disappointed with his Renault seasons so far.

**chunterer** · 8 Sep 2006, 08:45 (Ref:1704882)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Molotov

Let's hope they do, maybe Alonso is getting all the best equipment after all. I can't see Heikki being a championship contender in his first year, he was good in GP2 but he didn't blow me away like Hamilton is doing.

Fair enough, but he was the only non ART driver to get anywhere near Rosberg once ART had found their set up.

That aside, he is seriously good, Fernando was a bit more known when he stepped into Renault than Heikki perhaps is, but then Heikki's had a zillion testing miles over the last 2 years so he'll be prepared alright.

Don't be surprised if he's competitive straight away.

FPV GTHO · 8 Sep 2006, 09:30 (Ref:1704939)

He may be fast, but it may take a few months before he settles into his adapted racecraft and everything else you learn in the race, not in testing.

Alienman_69 · 8 Sep 2006, 09:33 (Ref:1704941)

I know 2007 is quite far right now, thats why i will say this.
I doubt Fisi will keep his Renault seat untill the end of the 2007. He had enough time to show something he never did, and I expect him to be crushed by Kovalainen so I doubt Fisi will be driving a Renault in the end of 2007.

FPV GTHO · 8 Sep 2006, 09:35 (Ref:1704944)

Well Zonta is a very capable tester. After Pedro's last races, some of the teams will perhaps be looking more strongly at their testers than their rookies, and Wurz will be one to look at as well next year. If Fisi is still underperforming, they might give him the boot and either stick Zonta in for safety, or trial Piquet.

Alienman_69 · 10 Sep 2006, 10:22 (Ref:1706511)

Ive read somewhere its on Piquet's contract with Renault he will be driving for them in 2008.

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