The F1 Pit Box

Nearly every statement made by the Renault team since Saturday afternoon has contained the phrase, or an approximation of, 'the race was decided on Saturday afternoon, off the track'.  This is in reference to Felipe Massa's complaint that he was blocked by Fernando Alonso on one of his final flying laps and the complaint was upheld by the investigating stewards, meaning Alonso started 10th on the grid instead of his original 5th.

Alonso flew off the start line and settled in for the majority of his first stint in or around sixth.  Massa was being held up by Robert Kubica at this time and lapping slower than the leaders, but couldn't find the power to get round him.  Alonso was also clearly unable to find the power to advance on the slow Massa, until some pit stop juggling saw him take third place, right before his engine exploded.

The teams first engine failure in three years on Alonso's car must have hurt, especially at such a crucial stage of the season and in my mind, instead of seeing this as the source of their woes (after all, team mate Fisichella wasn't setting the track on fire either was he) they seem intent on blaming outside influences instead of shutting up and getting on with it.  Although I hesitate to suggest it, perhaps without these feelings, Alonso may not have pushed his engine beyond its limit and at least come home with some points on Sunday.  I have always liked the way that Renault didn't get involved with the supposed 'conspiracy' between the FIA and Ferrari, and this is one of the reasons they have been so strong.

But now, with all this shouting and name-calling, they are in danger of becoming the Paul Stoddart of 2006, and much as we all loved old Stoddy, he did tend to go on a bit some days.   If Renault had accepted defeat gracefully, regardless of whether they think there was a wrong decision made at some stage, and knuckled down to some heavy weeks of testing prior to China, they may be stronger for it, plus earned more respect on and off the track.