Lotus Renault GP needs to improve its qualifying performance – Nick Heidfeld
Lotus Renault GP’s Nick Heidfeld has recently stated that qualifying is the main area where his team should concentrate in order to improve its competitiveness.
Renault is looking very strong this year as they have scored 2 podiums in 4 races till now. However, the team has been struggling in the qualifying sessions as both, Nick Heidfeld and Vitaly Petrov, were unable to qualify in respectable positions in the
last race which took place in Turkey.
As a result, Nick finished in 7th place followed by his teammate in 8th.
Heidfeld believes that this is because of the fact that the team has not maximized its potential in qualifying sessions.
“If we have stronger qualifying sessions, we'll definitely give ourselves a good chance each Sunday. This is my main focus now. With these new Pirelli tyres, there is not too much you can do to limit the impact of degradation from a driver point of view”,
he said.
He stated that since the R31 is gentler to its tyres as compared to cars driven by other teams, both drivers are able to take full advantage of the car during the race.
“I think that through good general usage of the car the driver can help the situation, but what is more important is how the car is set-up. If the car is prepared well beforehand then it can put us in a good position”, he added.
Other than that, Nick believes that the simulator work is not going to play a big role in the development of the car before the Spanish Grand Prix, set to take place at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.
He added that the whole team is aware of the circuit’s characteristics and even if any team uses a simulator, that won’t make much of a difference in terms of setting up the car.
The two Renault drivers are hoping to fight alongside Mercedes GP and Ferrari this year and they are hoping to finish ahead of the two team’s respective drivers at the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix, expected to take place this weekend.
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