| Giancarlo Fisichella believes it is not only important | | | | Magny Cours. Renault scored as many points in |
| for Renault to score points in France this | | | | the last two races in Montreal and Indianapolis as |
| weekend but also to beat BMW Sauber. The two | | | | third-placed BMW Sauber. |
| teams are locked in a tight fight for third place in | | | | However, engineering head Pat Symonds said on |
| this year's Constructors' Championship, which, at | | | | Monday the trend was still positive for Renault. "I |
| present, the German company is winning. | | | | think it's indicative of the fact the tide is turning, |
| After a sluggish start to the season, Renault have | | | | we are very close to BMW now and racing them |
| just 25 points from seven races, while BMW | | | | hard," he said in a team preview for the France |
| Sauber have flaunted 39, which include eight from | | | | Grand Prix. "Without a doubt we have upped our |
| Nick Heidfeld's Canadian GP podium result. | | | | game and pulled out of the midfield bunch we |
| However, Fisichella is confident that Renault are | | | | were in, to stand on top of it, and there's still |
| closing in on their rivals and reckons they can | | | | more to come." |
| push the German team to third place in the | | | | "We take a lot of comfort from the fact that |
| teams' battle. | | | | after a poor start to the year, we are pulling it |
| Asked what he's expecting from the | | | | back so rapidly," added Symonds. "Other teams |
| Magny-Cours race, Fisichella said: "Firstly, to score | | | | are not having a great season and not pulling it |
| more points, that's a priority. After that, we have | | | | back as we are. There is plenty to be proud of in |
| to race with BMW and try to beat them. They | | | | what we are doing." Renault has not had a driver |
| are the team we are fighting in the Championship, | | | | on the podium since world champion Fernando |
| and we have to try and out-score them in each | | | | Alonso's departure to McLaren at the end of |
| race from now on. It's not going to be easy, but | | | | 2006. |
| we know that our car is improving all the time, | | | | McLaren's on the lead with 106 and Ferrari second |
| we are making steps forward, and the motivation | | | | with 71 points. Renault is fourth in the |
| is there to do the job. I can't wait to get out on | | | | constructors' championship with 25 points to BMW |
| track and start working." | | | | Sauber's 39. Guided by reliable race parts and the |
| Fisichella's team-mate, Heikki Kovalainen, is also | | | | BMW timing chain, the team is aiming high. |
| expecting an improved performance in France, | | | | However, Renault's Kovalainen was fourth in |
| believing that Renault have taken a significant step | | | | Canada and fifth in Indianapolis while Fisichella was |
| forward during recent races and testing. "I think | | | | fourth in Monaco. Now, that makes the |
| we made another step with the car last week at | | | | competition even hotter. |
| Silverstone, so I am looking forward to getting | | | | Symonds said that there is more to come in |
| out there on Friday, and seeing how things stack | | | | France and at Silverstone the weekend after that. |
| up," the Kovalainen said. "We got the maximum | | | | "As we better understand the problems we have |
| out of our package in Indy. We have to do the | | | | been suffering from, we are able to improve the |
| same again this weekend." | | | | car," he said. "There are a lot of new bits coming |
| Formula One champions Renault said that they | | | | for the car, and you can be certain we will keep |
| have turned the tide after a poor start to the | | | | on fighting. |
| season and expect to be more competitive at | | | | |